Kenneth McKechnie Eldred—A distinguished noise control engineer I

Abstract

Elected in mid-career in 1975 to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) “For outstanding accomplishments in noise and vibration control of air, space, and transportation vehicles and in delineating acceptable noise environments for people.” His NAE peers recognized him “...as one of the five best noise and vibration control engineers in the country.” Ken's first job after graduating from M.I.T. in 1950 with studies of advanced courses in acoustics was as head of the Boston Naval Shipyard's lab working on the reduction of the noise and vibrations of submarine auxiliary equipment. In 1953 on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, he became Chief of the Bio-Acoustics Branch, Wright Air Development Center. In 1957, he moved to California for a career with Western Electro-Acoustic Laboratory and Wyle Laboratories prior to joining Bolt Beranek and Newman. This paper is primarily devoted to his activities in support of INCE/USA, his role in the passage of the Noise Control Act of 1972, and his activities in connection with the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.