Crawford H. Greenewalt (December 16, 1902 – September 23, 1993) was an American chemical engineer, industrialist, and ornithologist. He served as president of the [[DuPont]] Company from 1948 to 1962 and chairman of the board from 1962 to 1967. Greenewalt played a pivotal role in the [[Manhattan Project]] during World War II, overseeing DuPont's construction and operation of the [[Hanford Site]] for plutonium production.
Early Life and Education
Crawford H. Greenewalt was born in [[Newport, Rhode Island]]. He attended [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)]], where he studied chemical engineering, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1922.Career at DuPont
Greenewalt joined E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) in 1922 as a chemist. His early career involved research and development in various chemical processes. He quickly rose through the ranks due to his scientific acumen and managerial skills.=Manhattan Project
During World War II, Greenewalt was chosen to serve as a liaison between DuPont and the [[Metallurgical Laboratory]] at the [[University of Chicago]] for the Manhattan Project. DuPont was contracted by the U.S. government to design, build, and operate the massive plutonium production facilities at the Hanford Site in [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. Greenewalt played a crucial role in the development and implementation of the chemical separation processes necessary to extract plutonium, and in the design and construction of the nuclear reactors at Hanford. His work was essential to the success of the atomic bomb project.Presidency and Chairmanship
Following the war, Greenewalt continued his ascent within DuPont. He was elected president of the company in 1948, a position he held until 1962. During his presidency, DuPont diversified its product lines, expanded its research and development efforts, and grew significantly. He emphasized scientific management and the importance of technological innovation. After stepping down as president, he served as chairman of the board from 1962 until his retirement in 1967.Personal Interests and Legacy
Beyond his corporate career, Greenewalt was a passionate and accomplished ornithologist, with a particular focus on hummingbirds. He pioneered the use of high-speed photography to capture the intricate movements of these birds, contributing significantly to the understanding of their flight dynamics. His seminal work, "Hummingbirds," was published in 1960. He also served as a trustee of the [[Carnegie Institution for Science]].Crawford Greenewalt is remembered as a visionary industrialist who navigated DuPont through significant periods of growth and technological advancement, and for his critical contributions to the scientific and engineering challenges of the Manhattan Project. His blend of scientific rigor and executive leadership left a lasting impact on both industry and science.