GPS as We Know It Happened Because of Ronald Reagan

1983: President Reagan signs an executive order allowing civilian use of the Pentagon’s Global Positioning System.

GPS as We Know It Happened Because of Ronald Reagan — Photograph by Getty Images

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By Joshua Brustein

December 4, 2014 at 12:59 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

This article is part of the December 8, 2014 issue of businessweek.

1983 President Reagan signs an executive order allowing civilian use of the Pentagon’s Global Positioning System.

GPS as We Know It Happened Because of Ronald Reagan