Gernot Maria Rudolph Winkler (October 17, 1922 – April 30, 2016) was responsible for the Time Service Department of theUnited States Naval Observatory (USNO) from 1966 to 1996.[1]
Winkler oversaw the introduction ofcaesium beam-based Coordinated Universal Time based onhyperfine transitions and an internationally transportable "flying clock".
This in turn led Winkler to promote precision global positioning techniques (initially by time-reliable surface broadcasts in theLORAN andOmega radio-beacon chains, later bytwo-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTT).[1]
Gernot was born in theAustrian town ofFrohnleiten, which is the home of a technology institute (Technisches Büro für Luftfahrt und Maschinenbau). He was the son of Gustav and Eleanor (Née Schneider) Winkler. His interest in astronomy was inspired by German spaceflight pioneerHermann Oberth when he was about 12. The science fiction writerJules Verne was also a favourite. DuringWWII he was drafted into theWehrmacht; he was arrested by theUS Army inItaly.
In 1947, Winkler resumed his studies at theUniversity of Graz. In 1952 he obtained aPhD intheoretical physics and was an associate of theKanzelhoehe Solar Observatory.
In 1956 he and fellow Austrian Fritz Reder arrived in the United States to work in themicrowave resonance branch of theSignal Corps, joining the USNO that year.[2]
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