Julian Earls

CRESTWOOD HIGH, CHESAPEAKE (1960)
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Earls is a 1960 Graduate of Crestwood High in Chesapeake, Va. He graduated from Norfolk State College (now University) in 1964 with a B. S. in Physics; University of Rochester in 1965 with a M.S. in Radiation Biology, and the University of Michigan in 1973 with a Ph.D. in Radiation Physics. He also received an M.S. in Management Development from the Harvard Business School. He began his career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1965. In October 2003, Dr. Earls was appointed Director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC) at Lewis Field in Cleveland, Ohio. As Director his responsibilities included research in technology and systems development for space programs. In this position, he managed a budget of $740 million and more than 3,000 personnel. In one year he awarded over $180 million in contracts to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges, and Hispanic Serving Institutions. Dr. Earls is co-founder of the Development Fund for Black Students in Science and Technology which awards scholarships to students who attend HBCUs. In tribute to his wife, he established the Zenobia N. Earls Scholarship, which is presented to students who attend Howard University and Norfolk State University. Among his many awards, he was presented the Golden Torch Award by the National Society of Black Engineers and the Man of Achievement Award by 100 Black Men.