McCain in Antarctica, Jan 1997

Goddard Mourns the Loss of Harry McCain, POES Program Manager

Harry McCain, the Polar Operational Environmental Satellite Program Manager, passed away recently from complications due to cancer treatment. In August, McCain was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus and was undergoing both chemotherapy and radiation treatment programs. On Sunday November 4, Harry passed away from pneumonia at the age of 59.

"I will remember him as a cheerful, talkative person who enlivened meetings and conversations. Since becoming the program manager in 1995, he successfully led the Program in the manufacture of very complex instruments that fly on both US and European weather satellites, as well as the development and launch of the POES spacecraft," stated John Campbell, the Director of the Flight Programs and Projects Directorate. "Harry had a very healthy partnership with NOAA, his principal customer, resulting in a very strong environment of cooperation and trust."

McCain will be remembered by friends and associates for working very well with the POES contractors, often under difficult circumstances, including the transition of the prime contractor's facilities from one coast to the other. He was well respected by all those he came into contact with on a day-to-day basis, employees and contractors alike.

"We are greatly saddened and feel a terrible loss. Harry was universally liked and respected in the POES Program," stated Karen Halterman, the POES Deputy Program Manager. We plan to dedicate all our efforts on the NOAA-M launch to Harry."

McCain managed a highly competent technical and administrative Program Team that has been recognized for its high level of performance at GSFC. Under his direction, the team supported the flawless launch of NOAA-L in September 2000 and is now ready to support the launch of NOAA-M in the spring of 2002.

"We will miss Harry, but his legacy will live on through a robust and healthy satellite constellation, providing weather and climate data for all of humanity," stated Campbell.

McCain spent 33 years of his career in federal service, 28 years at GSFC and 5 years at the Bureau of Standards. He began his career at GSFC in 1968 as an electrical engineer performing Control and Data Handling work for multiple projects. He also supported the Small Scientific Satellite Project, and became a section head in the old code 730, Applied Engineering Division. He also worked on the Office of Space Science-1 payload for the third flight of the Space Shuttle.

In 1989, he became the Project Manager for the Flight Telerobotics Servicer Project. He then became the Project Manager for the TIMED Project in 1992. He has been the POES Program Manager since 1995.

He was a resident of Gaithersburg, Md., and graduated from Bladensburg High School. He graduated in 1968 from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Electronics Engineering. He enjoyed boating on the Chesapeake Bay and traveling.

Survivors include his wife, Jody, his two stepchildren, Jennifer White of Boyds, Md., and Erin Haslinger of Baltimore. He is also survived by two brothers, Timothy McCain, head of the Construction, Operations and Maintenance Branch at GSFC, of Bowie, Md.; and A. Douglas McCain of New Market, Md., and a sister, Margaret Legone of Laurel; and two grandchildren.

The McCain family is planning to hold a memorial service on November 17 to celebrate Harry's life. You may contact the POES program for further information concerning the specific details once the family has finalized the time an location.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be made in Harry's name to his favorite charity, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Chesapeake Bay Foundation Attn: Memorials 6 Herndon Avenue Annapolis, MD 21403.