David Warren honoured by building naming

The new DSTO Canberra headquarters named after Dr David Warren. (Defence)

The Australian inventor of the Black Box flight recorder, Dr David Warren, has been honoured by the naming of a new Defence building in Canberra.

The naming of the DSTO’s new Canberra headquarters at Brindabella Park was announced by the Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert. “Dr Warren was a visionary and his invention has made an extraordinary contribution to aviation safety around the world,” Mr Robert said. “The naming of the DSTO building is a fitting tribute to a great Aussie inventor.”

Chief Defence Scientist Dr Alex Zelinsky added; “Over the years DSTO has developed deep expertise in the forensic examination of Defence aircraft accidents and strategies to prevent their recurrence. This is the legacy of David Warren’s work.”

The 'Black box' was invented by Dr David Warren in the 1950s while working at a DSTO predecessor organisation. (Defence) — The ‘Black box’ was invented by Dr David Warren in the 1950s while working at a DSTO predecessor organisation. (Defence)

Dr Warren invented the black box flight recorder in the mid-1950s when employed at one of DSTO’s predecessor organisations, the Aeronautical Research Laboratory at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne.