In Memoriam: James B. Breckinridge, 1939 - 2022

Jun 12, 2022

James B. Breckinridge, Optica Fellow (1978) and former Board member, passed away on 12 June 2022 at the age of 83. He was known for his work at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where he held several positions, such as an instrument scientist for the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment, founding manager of the JPL Optics Division, and chief technologist for the NASA exoplanet program.  He retired in 2010 after 33 years at JPL. During his career, Breckinridge managed the division responsible for the design, construction, and testing of the space-flight optical systems built by JPL.

Breckinridge was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and developed an interest in engineering at a young age. He studied physics at Case Institute of Technology, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1961. He took a job as an observing assistant at the Lick Observatory where he worked with G.E. Kron building imaging intensifier tubes and doing six-color photoelectric photometry. Before beginning graduate school, Breckinridge worked at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona. Breckinridge enrolled in the University of Arizona (UA) intending to study astronomy but transferred to optics after he met Aden Meinel. By 1969, Breckinridge received his master’s and subsequently his PhD in 1976. His dissertation Coherence Interferometer and Astronomical Applications, focused on the development of the rotational shear spatial interferometer with applications to problems in the astronomical sciences.

Breckinridge was a long-time member of SPIE and Optica and held prominent roles in both organizations over the course of his career.  He served on the Optica Board of Directors from 1984-1986, the Executive Council (1985), and as a member of the Nominating Council from 1990-1991.  He was an editor of Applied Optics and served as a member of the FiO LS program committee for many years (1997-1998; 1992-1993; 1984). Most recently, Breckinridge served as a Traveling Lecturer for Optica. Breckinridge was made an Optica (formerly OSA) Fellow in 1987.  Other recognitions include being named an SPIE Fellow and the 2003 recipient of the SPIE George W. Goddard Award in Space and Airborne Optics.

Breckinridge held six patents for innovative optical systems and authored more than 95 publications in astronomy, physical optics, spectroscopy, and image science.

Optica, his family and the scientific community mourn his loss.