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John Brooks Slaughter

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John Brooks Slaughter
11th President of Occidental College
In office
1989–1999
Preceded byRichard C. Gilman
Succeeded byTed Mitchell
5th (and last) Chancellor of the University of Maryland, College Park
In office
1982–1988
Preceded byRobert Gluckstern
Succeeded byWilliam English Kirwan
(as president)
6th Director of the National Science Foundation
In office
1980–1982
PresidentJimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
Preceded byRichard C. Atkinson
Succeeded byEdward A. Knapp
Personal details
Born(1934-03-16)March 16, 1934
Topeka, Kansas, U.S.
DiedDecember 6, 2023(2023-12-06) (aged 89)
Pasadena, California, U.S.
Alma mater
Scientific career
FieldsElectrical engineering
InstitutionsNavy Electronics Laboratory
ThesisThe solution of a class
of optimal control problems
by linear and piecewise-linear programming techniques
 (1971)

John Brooks Slaughter (March 16, 1934 – December 6, 2023) was an American electrical engineer and college president who served as the first African-American director of the National Science Foundation (NSF).[1] His work focused on the development of computer algorithms for system optimization and discrete signal processing.

Early life and education

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Slaughter was born in and grew up in Topeka, Kansas, and attended Topeka High School. After two years at Washburn University, Slaughter transferred and earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Kansas State University in 1956, an M.S. in engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1961, and a Ph.D. in engineering sciences from the University of California, San Diego in 1971.[2][3]

Academic career

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Slaughter took a civilian position at the United States Navy Electronics Laboratory in San Diego in 1960. He was appointed Director of the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington in 1975. He joined the NSF in 1977 as assistant director for Astronomics, Atmospherics, Earth and Ocean Sciences. From 1980 to 1982 he was Director of the NSF.[4]

Slaughter was elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering in 1982. From 1982 to 1988 Slaughter served as Chancellor of the University of Maryland, College Park, then served as President of Occidental College in Los Angeles from 1988 to 1999. In 1999 he was appointed Melbo Professor of Leadership in Education at the University of Southern California.

Death

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Slaughter died on December 6, 2023, while receiving treatment at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California. He was 89.[5]

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ "About - NSF History - John B. Slaughter Biography | NSF - National Science Foundation". www.nsf.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  2. ^ "John Slaughter". The History Makers. Nov 28, 2012.
  3. ^ Slaughter, John Brooks (1971). The solution of a class of optimal control problems by linear and piecewise-linear programming techniques (Ph.D.). University of California, San Diego. OCLC 17797905 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ Staff report (June 12, 1982). National Science Chief To Leave Federal Post. New York Times
  5. ^ "Occidental College President Emeritus John B. Slaughter Dies at 89". Occidental College. December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "IEEE Founders Medal Recipients" (PDF). IEEE. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "A Tribute to Excellence and Equity: the John Brooks Slaughter Center for Engineering Diversity". USC Viterbi | School of Engineering. Retrieved 2023-09-21.

Further reading

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  • Kessler, J., Kidd, J. Kidd R. & Morin, K. (1996). Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press. pp. 292–296.
[edit]
Government offices
Preceded by Director of the National Science Foundation
December 1980 – October 1982
Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Chancellor of the University of Maryland, College Park
1982–1988
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Richard C. Gilman
President of Occidental College
1989–1999
Succeeded by
Theodore R. Mitchell