Robert S. Wiseman

ROBERT SWERN WISEMAN, 89, of Ashburn, VA, died at home on Friday afternoon, 23 August 2013.He was born 27 February 1924 in Robinson, IL, to Mary Jean Swern Wiseman and Wallace Paul Wiseman. He was married on 1 February 1947 to Norma Mae Woodard, also of Robinson. They had only one child, Mary Anne (Marnie) Wiseman Belling. Robert S. Wiseman volunteered during World War II for active duty in the Army Air Corps on 7 February 1943 and was trained as a Private in Pre-Meteorology at the University of Chicago. In February 1944, he was transferred to Aviation Cadet Communications Officer Training at Yale University. He was then commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 2 November 1944 and sent to the Radar Officer Course at Boca Raton, FL. In April 1945, he was transferred to the island of Saipan in the Pacific Theater, and he became the Communications & Electronics Officer for the 4th Emergency Rescue Squadron (4th ERS) on Iwo Jima in July 1945. After the surrender in August 1945, he returned to Saipan and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in April 1946. On 5 June 1946, he departed the 4th ERS and was Honorably Discharged from active duty on 10 August 1946. He subsequently joined the Army Air Corps Reserve and was active in the Air Force Reserve for many years; he was promoted from 1st Lieutenant to Captain in April 1951, to Major in April 1958, and to Lt. Colonel (LTC) in April 1965. From 1954 to 1965, he was the Commander and Instructor of the Air Force Research & Development Reserve Flight in Washington, DC. In November 1965, he was assigned to Retired Air Force Reserve Status. He was retired 27 February 1984 at the age of 60. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, West Pacific Campaign Bronze Star, Air Offensive Campaign Bronze Star, Eastern Mandates Campaign Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal 'Japan€™ Bar, and Armed Forces Reserve (USAF) Medal (Bronze, Silver, and Gold).Upon discharge in 1946, he attended the University of Illinois and earned his Bachelor€™s, Master€™s, and PhD Degrees. While working on his PhD, he established and taught an Illuminating Engineering Option at Mississippi State College. On 1 February 1954, Dr. Wiseman (€˜Doc€™) joined the U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Laboratories (ERDL), Fort Belvoir, VA, and developed the Warfare Vision Electrical Department. This is the team that later developed the Night Vision Devices which enabled the Military to see in the dark. In November 1965, he was promoted to senior PL313 level and moved to the U.S. Army Electronics Command at Fort Monmouth, NJ, where he directed both the Night Vision Laboratories at Fort Belvoir and the Combat Surveillance & Target Acquisition Labs at Fort Monmouth. In August 1968, his responsibility expanded to all Fort Monmouth Electronic Labs. In April 1977, he was made Technical Director, US Army Electronics R&D Command in Adelphi, MD, and moved to McLean, VA. On 4 November 1979, he was promoted to Senior Executive Service Level 4 and was made Deputy to the Commanding General; he was then responsible for all of the Army€™s Science & Technology. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter awarded him the rank of Distinguished Executive in the Senior Executive Service. On 11 July 1981, he retired from Civil Service.From September 1981 through 1992, Dr. Wiseman worked for Martin Marietta Aerospace in Orlando, FL, where he fulfilled various management positions. On 1 January 1993, he was named Executive Vice President of MK Research Inc., Orlando, FL, working for Dr. Mohammad Katoot, who was doing advanced chemical research. Dr. Wiseman fully retired in 1998, staying in Orlando, playing bridge and enjoying friends. In 2010, he and his wife moved to Ashby Ponds in Ashburn, VA, to be closer to their family.Robert Swern Wiseman is survived by his wife of 66 years, Norma €˜Woody€™ Wiseman, daughter and son-in-law Marnie Wiseman Belling and Kenrick Belling of Annandale, VA, and grandsons Kevin Scott Belling of Fairfax and Keith Robert Belling of Annandale. Funeral services will be held at the Goodwine Funeral Home, Robinson at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2013 with Rev. Tiffany Black officiating. Burial will follow in the Robinson New Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by Robinson VFW Post #4549, the American Legion Post #69 and the AmVets Post #33. Visitation will be from 12-2 p.m., prior to service time on Saturday.