The design effort was led by Northrop vice president of engineering and accomplished fighter aircraft designer Edgar Schmued, who previously at North American Aviation had been the chief designer of the highly successful P-51 Mustang and F-86 Sabre fighters.
The design effort was led by Northrop vice president of engineering and accomplished fighter aircraft designer Edgar Schmued Garrison, Peter. "White Rocket", Air and Space Magazine, September 2005, who previously at North American Aviation had been the chief designer of the highly successful P-51 Mustang and F-86 Sabre fighters.