Webb, James

Webb, James (Edwin)

(1907–92) business executive, government official; born in Granville County, N.C. A Sperry Gyroscope executive (1936–41) and Marine Corps major, he served as President Truman's budget director (1946–49), balancing the budget before joining the state department (1949–52). As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration director (1961–68), he put American astronauts ahead of the Russians, leaving to head a science foundation.