Joseph V. Charyk

Joseph Vincent Charyk (born September 9, 1920) was the first Director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

Charyk consolidated the CIA, Air force, and Navy space programs into the NRO. He brought the first United States imagery satellite, CORONA, into operation and demonstrated signals intelligence technology from space. During his tenure, the NRO operated the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft and managed development of the A-12.

In 1974, he received the Emmy Directorate Award for his work with COMSAT.