Mr. Thomas F. Colleran

Mr. Thomas F. Colleran was born in 1886 and graduated from Rutgers University in 1916 with an engineering degree.

He began his Federal Service career at Sandy Hook Proving Ground in 1917, but was assigned to Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1918 and remained there in various capacities, both civilian and military, until 1956. He played a key role in establishing and implementing Ordnance testing techniques which were the backbone of the Proving Ground test procedures from World War I on.

Between 1920 and 1929, he was succes­sively appointed Chief of the Range and Fire Control Section, Chief of the Range Operations Branch, Chief of the Planning and Engineering Section, and Chief of the War Plans Section holding this last post for twelve years until 1941.

During World War II, first as a Major, and later as a Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel, he held several posts at Aberdeen Proving Ground, the last of which was command of the 2118th Officer's Research and Development Control Group in 1946. It was largely through his efforts that Aberdeen Proving Ground received the Army and Navy "E" for Excellence Flag on five separate occasions.

His final position was Director of Development and Proof Services at Aberdeen Proving Ground, from 1947 until 1956. He then continued until 1962 as consultant to the Commanding General, Aberdeen Proving Ground and the Director of Development and Proof Services. Mr. Colleran died in 1969.