From the time Rear Admiral Thomas Cassidy, Jr. joined General Atomics in 1986, the company has taken bold steps into the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) field. In 1993, as President of GA-Aeronautical Systems, Cassidy introduced the most important RPA in history, the RQ-1 "Predator," which has dramatically changed warfare. GA-ASI has become a world leader in RPA. Cassidy, a highly decorated combat veteran, served in the Navy for 34 years, with over 6,000 flight hours, 155 combat missions, and 780 carrier landings. His career included service as Task Force Operations Officer during evacuation of Saigon. He commanded both VF-161 and NAS Miramar, when it was a Top Gun school, to his final assignment as Commander, Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wing, Pacific Fleet. Frank Pace came to GA in 1991 following a distinguished career with several key contractors. In 2010, after 19 years under Admiral Cassidy, he was promoted to GA-ASI President. Pace has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for Engineering, Science & Technology and was awarded the 2010 Pioneer Award from the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. Pace has overseen greater than 70% of the more than three million hours flown by the wide variety of RPA produced by GA-ASI, including the Predator, Reaper and Avenger. Perhaps his most important achievement was his work mating the Predator RPA with the standoff capability of the Hellfire missile, giving it the ability to strike without risk to operating crews.
Inducted in 2015.
Portrait Location: Near R-44 and B-5 Brougham

Induction Video