Donald A. Beattie

Donald A. Beattie (October 30, 1929 – August 22, 2014) was an American aerospace scientist and former government official who was the Acting Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Solar Applications in the United States Department of Energy from 1977 to 1978. He also served as Assistant Administrator of the Energy Research and Development Administration and Director of the Energy Systems Division of NASA.

Biography Donald A. Beattie was born to James Francis and Evelyn Margaret (Hickey) Beattie on October 30, 1929, in Staten Island, New York. He attended Columbia College on a NROTC scholarship.

After the end of the Apollo program, Beattie transferred to the National Science Foundation, where he was appointed Director of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Division, working on solar and geothermal research and development programs.

In 1975, he became the Deputy Assistant Administrator, and later the Assistant Administrator for Solar, Geothermal and Advanced Energy Systems at the newly established Energy Research and Development Administration. He assumed the position in October 1977 and served in that role until August 1978 when President Carter's nominee, Omi Walden, for the position was finally approved.

In 1978, he returned to NASA as Director of the Energy Systems Division. He left in 1983 in order to join BDM International as Vice President of Houston Operations. Beattie established his own consulting business in 1984 and served as President of Endosat Inc. from 1991 to 1996.

Personal life Beattie died on August 22, 2014, in St. Johns, Florida. He was 84 years old. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two grandchildren.