In Memoriam: David L. Fried, 1933 - 2022

May 05, 2022

David Larry Fried, Optica Fellow (1970) and pioneer in electro-optics, passed away on 5 May 2022 in Monterey, California at the age of 89. He was known for his contributions to electro-optics, and most notably the Fried parameter, or r0 (r-naught or r-zero), which measures the strength of turbulence in the earth’s atmosphere.

Fried was born in 1933 in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish immigrant parents. As a young teen, he taught himself calculus while pumping gas at his parents’ service station in New Jersey. Early on, he had a love for learning and his friends often called him “the professor.” He went on to study at Rutgers University where he received his BA, MS, and PhD degrees in Physics. In 1961 he worked for Rockwell International. He was the Manager of the Electro-Optical Laboratory of the Autonetics Division and engaged in the study of devices necessary for laser applications, and in the analysis of system concepts for laser application. In 1966 he joined the North American Aviation Science Center technical staff where he engaged in microwave reflectivity and emissivity of rough surfaces.

Fried was an active member of Optica since the 70s. In 1973, he joined the David Richardson Medal Committee and the Advisory International Committee on Optics. In addition, he was also a member of the Nominating Council. By 1983, he became Chair of the Fellow Members Committee. Outside of his involvement in Optica, he served on the US Army Science Board (ASB) for 20 years, and was a member of the standing committee on ballistic missile defense. He played a key role in the development of laser guide star technology which in 1993 won him the SPIE Technology Achievement Award.

Aside from optics, he believed political involvement to be a civic duty and was active in local initiatives such as Prevent the Airport Through Chino Hills (PATCH). He also provided citizen input for over ten years for the Monterey County General Plan Update process for advocating for sustainable community planning. He was a founding member of the organization Friends, Artists, and Neighbors of the Elkhorn Slough (FANS), and he worked hard on the restoration and preservation of the slough and watershed.

Optica and the scientific community mourn his loss.