Patrick J. Friel Ph.D.

Dr. Patrick J. Friel passed on June 30, 2016 after a brief illness. Dr. Friel was born on January 5, 1928, the son of Patrick and Bridget Friel of Philadelphia and Donegal, Ireland. He received a B.S. Degree in Chemistry in 1950 from Villanova College and a M.S. and PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952 and 1955, respectively. He was employed by the Sun Oil Company from 1954 to 1958 where he met and married his beloved wife of 59 years, Charlotte Anne McClaskey, a fellow chemist from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. He joined the General Electric Company in 1958 and participated in the United States missile programs including: The Atlas; Titan; and Minuteman Missile Systems. He participated in the development of the model of the heat shield used by NASA for spaceship reentry. In 1966, Dr. Friel joined the Advanced Research Agency in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and was appointed Director of the Missile Defense Office. Subsequently, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Army and the Director of the Army’s national R&D program in Ballistic Missile Defense. In 1969, he became President of the Sadtler Research Laboratory in Philadelphia. In 1971, Dr. Friel formed a consulting firm specializing in consulting services to the U.S. Defense Department in Strategic Defense Systems. Dr. Friel was a member of the National Consulting Board of the Fletcher School and Diplomacy at Tufts University and guest lecturer in strategic nuclear systems and arms control. He was also a guest lecturer at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington in the political science department. Dr. Friel is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years and four children: Rosanne Aresty and her husband Peter; Dr. Patrick J. Friel, III and his wife Karen; Dr. Charles Friel and his wife Catherine; and Mr. Antony Friel and eight grandchildren, Skye, Ruby and Lark Aresty, Margaret Friel, Laura, Jesse and Ryan Friel, and Skylar Friel.