Frederick Clark Durant III (December 31, 1916- October 21, 2015) was an American author, naval test pilot, chemical engineer, and expert in rocketry and spaceflight.^[2] Durant served as a "key advisor" to U.S. military, intelligence, and space-flight programs, playing a central role in Project Orbiter, the first US satellite program.^[3]

In his later years, Durant served as assistant director of the National Air and Space Museum and an editor of Encyclopædia Britannica.^[1]

Durant was a descendant of Thomas C. Durant and engineer Joseph Harrison, Jr.^[2] Durant's father was Frederick C. Durant Jr., an engineer educated at MIT and the Colorado School of Mines, who became president of a telephone company^[2]

Fred C. Durant III graduated the Haverford preparatory school in 1934.^[4] In 1939, Durant earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University.^[2][1] From 1939 to 1941, Durant was employed as a chemical engineer with the E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., at Pennsgrove, New Jersey.^[2]

In May 1941, Durant enlisted as a US naval aviation cadet.^[2] Durant went on to serve as naval aviator and flight instructor.^[2] In 1946, retired from the Navy at the rank of Commander in the Naval Reserves.^[2] In 1951, Durant returned to service as a test pilot, ultimately flying some 30 different types of aircraft.^[5]

In 1947, Durant began work as a rocket engineer with Bell Aircraft in Buffalo New York.^[2] From 1948 to 1951, he served as Director of Engineering at the U.S. Naval Air Rocket Test Station at Dover, New Jersey.^[2] In 1953, he became the President of the American Rocket Society^[2][1]

Durant was a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society,^[2] the German Society for Aviation and Space Flight (DGLR),^[2] and the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences^[2] Durant was a consultant to the Department of Defense, Bell Aerosystems Co., Central Intelligence Agency, others.^[2] From 1954 to 1955, Durant was part of Project Orbiter, along with von Braun.^[2][1][3][6]

In 1961, Durant moved to D.C., where he would stay until 1999.^[1] In 1965, Durant became the Assistant director of National Air and Space Museum.^[2] He retired from that post in 1980.^[2] During his time at the Smithsonian, Durant wrote articles for Encyclopædia Britannica on rockets and spaceflight.^[2] In 1983, Durant collaborated with Ron Miller and illustrator Chesley Bonestell on a book entitled Worlds Beyond.^[7] The book features a foreword by Arthur C. Clarke.^[8]

Durant was a lifelong member of Society of American Magicians.^[2] He married Celeste Bennett, who died from hepatitis^[2] In 1947, Durant married Carolyn Jones ("Pip"). He was father to three sons and one daughter. Durant died in 2015, being preceded in death by his two of his sons: Derek and William.^[2][3]