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Vahey S. KupelianAmerican military designer of Armenian and Greek descent
Date of Birth: 01.01.1912
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Armenian Genocide
- Immigration to the United States
- Aerospace Career
- Recognition and Accolades
- Legacy and Retirement
Arshak Karapetyan: Armenian-Greek American Missile and Aircraft Engineer
Early Life and Armenian Genocide
Arshak Karapetyan was born into an Armenian-Greek family of physicians, Marie and Simon Kyupelyan. In 1915, during the Turkish Armenian Genocide, the Kyupelyan family was forcibly relocated to the Syrian Desert of Deir ez-Zor.
Despite the dire circumstances, the family managed to survive due to Simon Kyupelyan's medical service in the Turkish army. Tragically, their youngest daughter, Vahe, and Arshak's father perished.
Immigration to the United States
After returning to their home in Kahramanmaraş, the family found their home destroyed. Heartbroken, they decided to emigrate to the United States.
Aerospace Career
In 1939, Karapetyan embarked on a career in aeronautical engineering at Pratt & Whitney. He later joined Goodyear, where he led numerous aircraft and missile development projects, including the F2G Corsair.
In 1950, he moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the U.S. Navy Department. From 1966 to 1974, he served as Assistant Director of the Advanced Ballistic Missiles Defense Agency (ABMDA). He subsequently became the Assistant for Missile Technology to the Ballistic Missile Defense Program Director.
Recognition and Accolades
In 1984, Karapetyan was honored with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' Missile and Space Technology Award.
Legacy and Retirement
In April 1988, he retired from his position as Assistant Undersecretary of Defense for Strategic and Theater Nuclear Forces. He spent his later years in Chevy Chase, Maryland, passing away from cancer at George Washington University Hospital.
