Jerry C. Elliott

High Eagle, from the age of five, had a vision of assisting astronauts to get to the moon. While supported by some members in his family and community, he was faced with opposition due to his race.

After graduating from Northwest Classen High School, he was accepted into the University of Oklahoma at the age of 18. While in university, he faced a degree of culture shock, facing disrespect and misunderstandings towards him as an American Indian. He faced racial discrimination from his professors, and was unable to pursue graduate studies due to the death of his stepfather and an overall lack of funding. He received a degree in physics with a minor in mathematics in April of 1966, being the first indigenous native to obtain one from the University of Oklahoma, department of physics.{{cite web |last1=Reichhardt |first1=Tony |title=Mission Control on the eve of the first moon launch |url=https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/mission-control-on-the-eve-of-the-first-moon-launch-110935767/ |website=Air & Space Magazine |accessdate=25 July 2020 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726033055/https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/mission-control-on-the-eve-of-the-first-moon-launch-110935767/ |url-status=live }}

Starting his space career early in the Gemini Program, Elliott joined NASA in April 1966 as a flight mission operations engineer, serving at the Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas.{{cite book |last1=Conley |first1=Robert J. |title=A Cherokee Encyclopedia |date=2007 |publisher=UNM Press |isbn=978-0-8263-3951-5 |page=93 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jjfu4rAAyU8C&q=Jerry+Elliott+High+Eagle&pg=PA93 |accessdate=26 July 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418085327/https://books.google.com/books?id=Jjfu4rAAyU8C&q=Jerry+Elliott+High+Eagle&pg=PA93 |url-status=live }} He was Program Staff Engineer at the NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC during the Apollo–Soyuz Program. He served as a Senior Technical Manager in the Management Integration Office of the Space Station's Program Office.{{cite web |title=Ancient Observatories Native American Connections Jerry C. Elliott |url=https://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2005/na/bio_jerry.htm |website=sunearthday.nasa.gov |publisher=NASA |accessdate=25 July 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226044644/https://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2005/na/bio_jerry.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Jerry Elliot High Eagle – Native American Heritage Month 2015 |url=https://blog.adafruit.com/2015/11/24/jerry-elliot-high-eagle-native-american-heritage-month-2015/ |website=Adafruit Industries - Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers! |publisher=Adafruit |accessdate=25 July 2020 |date=24 November 2015 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726022725/https://blog.adafruit.com/2015/11/24/jerry-elliot-high-eagle-native-american-heritage-month-2015/ |url-status=live }} Elliott and his team provided ground support equipment and space hardware for Skylab, the United States' first space station.

While at NASA, Elliott pushed for furthering telecommunications infrastructure between reservations. Implemented the American Indian Telecommunications Satellite Demonstration Project linked the All-Indian Pueblo Council and the Crow Indian Reservation with the federal government at Washington, D.C. His testimony before Congress culminated in the establishment in the First Americans Commission for Telecommunications (FACT).{{cite book |title=Telecommunications technology and Native Americans : opportunities and challenges. |year=1995 |publisher=Office of Technology Assessment, Congress of the U.S. |isbn=9780160481949 |pages=100 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YnjkepjCOCYC&q=Jerry+Elliott+High+Eagle&pg=PA100 |accessdate=26 July 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418085328/https://books.google.com/books?id=YnjkepjCOCYC&q=Jerry+Elliott+High+Eagle&pg=PA100 |url-status=live }}

During the Apollo program he held several important management and leadership positions.{{cite web |last1=International |first1=Living on Earth / World Media Foundation / Public Radio |title=Living on Earth: The Eagle Soars |url=http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=10-P13-00048&segmentID=7 |website=Living on Earth |accessdate=25 July 2020 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726042228/http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=10-P13-00048&segmentID=7 |url-status=live }} He was the only indigenous native person on the control team.{{cite web |last1=KickingWoman |first1=Kolby |title=Moon landing: 'Great amount of pride being the only Native person on the control team' |url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/moon-landing-great-amount-of-pride-being-the-only-native-person-on-the-control-team-0W65If-hWEmKk0RCNGzjNg |website=IndianCountryToday |publisher=Indian Country Today |accessdate=25 July 2020 |archive-date=25 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725031840/https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/moon-landing-great-amount-of-pride-being-the-only-native-person-on-the-control-team-0W65If-hWEmKk0RCNGzjNg |url-status=live }} He served on the mission control team during Apollo 11's successful Moon landing. Elliott played an instrumental role in computing the trajectory and successful recovery back to Earth during the events of Apollo 13. His efforts during the events of the disaster awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Richard Nixon for his role in saving the lives of the three endangered astronauts.{{cite web |title=National Native American Heritage Month – Jerry C. Elliott, Aerospace Engineer |url=https://transportationhistory.org/2018/11/07/national-native-american-heritage-month-jerry-c-elliott-aerospace-engineer/ |website=Transportation History |publisher=AASHTO |accessdate=25 July 2020 |date=7 November 2018 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726032110/https://transportationhistory.org/2018/11/07/national-native-american-heritage-month-jerry-c-elliott-aerospace-engineer/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Jerry Chris High Eagle Elliott World Class Speakers & Entertainers |url=https://www.wcspeakers.com/speaker/jerry-chris-high-eagle-elliott/ |website=wcspeakers |publisher=World Class Speakers and Entertainers |accessdate=25 July 2020 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726020802/https://www.wcspeakers.com/speaker/jerry-chris-high-eagle-elliott/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title="Dream...Believe...Achieve" with J.C. High Eagle |url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/calendar/cities/dream-believe-achieve-with-j-c-high-eagle/event_24ad948a-115b-11e2-82da-001a4bcf887a.html |website=Rapid City Journal Media Group |publisher=Rapid City Journal |accessdate=25 July 2020 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726020753/https://rapidcityjournal.com/calendar/cities/dream-believe-achieve-with-j-c-high-eagle/event_24ad948a-115b-11e2-82da-001a4bcf887a.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=BHAS |url=http://ggladfelter.net/BHAS/HighEagle.htm |website=ggladfelter.net |publisher=Black Hills Astronomical Society |accessdate=25 July 2020 |archive-date=23 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223142445/http://ggladfelter.net/bhas/HighEagle.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title="Heroes of Apollo 13 Welcomed by President and Loved Ones" page 1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39764154/heroes-of-apollo-13-welcomed-by/ |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |accessdate=25 July 2020 |pages=1 |date=19 April 1970 |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814202138/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39764154/heroes-of-apollo-13-welcomed-by/ |url-status=live }}

Accomplishing his boyhood vision of landing men on the Moon, Elliott continued work at NASA for a total of four decades. Some of Elliott's personal papers during the Apollo era are held at the Oklahoma History Center.{{cite web |title=Jerry Elliott |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/4038668-Jerry-Elliott-4 |website=Discogs |accessdate=25 July 2020 |archive-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218170234/https://www.discogs.com/artist/4038668-Jerry-Elliott-4 |url-status=live }}

Elliott is fluent in the English, and proficient in Russian, Spanish, and Osage languages. His name "High Eagle" was given to him when he turned 41, by native elders. {{cite web |last1=Francisco |first1=Edna |title=Science: A Spiritual Journey of Discovery |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/science-spiritual-journey-discovery |website=Science Magazine |publisher=AAAS |accessdate=25 July 2020 |date=1 October 2004 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726020750/https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2004/10/science-spiritual-journey-discovery |url-status=live }} Elliott cites his mother and Albert Einstein as his personal heroes. He enjoys playing the guitar and Indian flute.{{cite web |last1=Vernal |first1=Lisa |title=Jerry Elliott High Eagle (Osage- Cherokee), Assistant Chief Technologist |url=https://www.challenger.org/2015/01/01/stem-profile-jerry-elliott-high-eagle-osage-cherokee-assistant-chief-technologist/ |website=Challenger Center |accessdate=25 July 2020 |date=1 January 2015 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726020800/https://www.challenger.org/2015/01/01/stem-profile-jerry-elliott-high-eagle-osage-cherokee-assistant-chief-technologist/ |url-status=live }} His work in music has led to him performing in the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. He has also played roles on the film Houston, We've Got a Problem, where he played himself, along with an appearance on the television show Walker, Texas Ranger.

In 1977, he was a founder/incorporator of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Inc., along with two other founders, George Thomas (Cherokee), and Alex Labadie (Osage). The society pursues further Native American involvement in the sciences.{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.aises.org/about/history |website=AISES |accessdate=25 July 2020 |date=14 November 2018 |archive-date=8 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708023546/https://www.aises.org/about/history |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=2018 Annual Report |url=https://www.aises.org/sites/default/files/documents/2018-AISES-Annual-Report.pdf |website=AISES |publisher=AMERICAN INDIAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SOCIETY |accessdate=25 July 2020 |archive-date=25 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725032233/https://www.aises.org/sites/default/files/documents/2018-AISES-Annual-Report.pdf |url-status=live }} He is the founder and CEO of High Eagle Technologies, Inc, a native company dedicated to cancer research and treatment with patented technology he was awarded in 2019.{{cite web |title=Who We Are – High Eagle Technologies |url=https://higheagletechnologies.com/who-we-are/ |website=High Eagle Technologies, Inc. |accessdate=25 July 2020 |archive-date=25 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725034823/https://higheagletechnologies.com/who-we-are/ |url-status=live }}

Mr. Elliott authored the Congressional legislation for Native American Awareness Week, 1976, for the first historic week of observance for the American Indian in the history of the United States. The legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Gerald R. Ford.

• Cherokee Medal of Honor
• Navajo Medal of Honor{{cite web |last1=Locke |first1=Kimberly Durment |title=Oklahoma native shares Apollo 13 experience |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/Article/index/9412 |website=Cherokee Phoenix |date=6 July 2015 |accessdate=28 May 2020 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726022725/https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/Article/index/9412 |url-status=live }}
• Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Medal of Honor Award, highest national honor bestowed by The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, for high ethical conduct and contributions to humanity, 1991.
• State of Tennessee Special Proclamation by Governor and Tennessee Legislature honoring meritorious achievements in science, music and contributions to humanity, February 7, 2007.
• Ely Samuel Parker Award, highest honor bestowed by the American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES), Inc., for lifetime career achievements and community service.
• Bausch and Lomb National Science Award.
• Science and Engineering National Achievement Award, presented by the American Indian Art and Cultural Exchange, 1976.
• National Chairperson, Native American Awareness Week, October 10-16, 1976. He authored congressional legislation signed by President Gerald R. Ford.
• Bronze Halo Award by the Southern California Motion Picture Council for outstanding contributions to humanity, 1983.
• Special Achievement Award by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lewis Research Center (now Glenn Research Center), Cleveland, Ohio, for meritorious achievements, and exceptional contributions to research, planning, organization and conduct of responsibilities relating to space and technology programs. 1978.
• Group Achievement Award by NASA Langley Research Center, 1981.
• National Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award, 2006, for significant, quantifiable, personal impact on industry and their communities in maintaining a powerful position of influence regarding public policy.
• Sequoyah Fellow Honor, American Indian Science & Engineering Society, 2003
• Teacher Award, presented by the American Indian Science & Engineering Society, Inc., 2004
• Science Spectrum Trailblazers Award, presented by Science Spectrum Magazine, 2006
• Oklahoma 2011 Indian Elder Distinguished Honoree, bestowed by the American Assoc. of Retired, for outstanding achievements/contributions to his tribe, community and state, 2011
• Poet Laurette, Nominated for distinction of State of Oklahoma, Poet Laurette, 2017
• NWC Hall of Fame, inducted November 1, 2019, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 2019
• Nominated for the Technical Excellence Award, American Indian Science & Engineering Society, Inc., 2020.

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/44901 Oral history interview transcript with Jerry C. Elliott-High Eagle on 2 October 2020, American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library & Archives]

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Category:Osage_people

Category:NASA people

Category:Apollo 13

Category:Scientists from Oklahoma City

Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients

Category:University of Oklahoma alumni

Category:20th-century American physicists

Category:1943 births

Category:Living people

Category:Physicists from Oklahoma

Category:Northwest Classen High School alumni

Category:Cherokee Nation scientists

Category:21st-century Native American scientists

Category:20th-century Native American scientists