Dean Wooldridge
Encyclopedia
Dean Everett Wooldridge was a prominent engineer
in the aerospace
industry.
Something of a prodigy, Wooldridge graduated from high school at age of 14. He received his bachelor's
and master's degree
from the University of Oklahoma
. Like his future colleague Simon Ramo
, Wooldridge went on to study at the California Institute of Technology
, from which he received his doctorate
of physics
(summa cum laude) in 1936.
After leaving Caltech, Wooldridge moved first to Bell Laboratories, where he worked on the theory of magnetism
. In 1946, he and Simon Ramo (his classmate at Caltech) both became director of research for the electronics department of Hughes Aircraft
, and his career became coupled with that of Simon Ramo. Together they formed an incredibly successful team for many years, with Ramo concentrating on investment and general business aspects while Wooldridge led research, development and engineering efforts. By 1948, Hughes had created its Aerospace Group to work with the also newly created U.S. Air Force. Ramo and Wooldridge were particularly concerned when Howard Hughes
avoided their attempts to discuss the problem. In September 1953 they jointly resigned, and within a week they formed to Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation on September 16, 1953.
In 1958, Ramo-Wooldridge merged with Thompson Products to form TRW
, which carried on the success of its predecessor. (In 2002, TRW was bought by Northrop Grumman
.) Wooldridge served as president of TRW until he retired in 1962.
He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences
. He died of pneumonia
on September 20, 2006 at Cottage Hospital
in Santa Barbara, California
.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
in the aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
industry.
Something of a prodigy, Wooldridge graduated from high school at age of 14. He received his bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. Like his future colleague Simon Ramo
Simon Ramo
Simon "Si" Ramo is an American physicist, engineer, and business leader. He led development of microwave and missile technology and is sometimes known as the father of the intercontinental ballistic missile...
, Wooldridge went on to study at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
, from which he received his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
(summa cum laude) in 1936.
After leaving Caltech, Wooldridge moved first to Bell Laboratories, where he worked on the theory of magnetism
Magnetism
Magnetism is a property of materials that respond at an atomic or subatomic level to an applied magnetic field. Ferromagnetism is the strongest and most familiar type of magnetism. It is responsible for the behavior of permanent magnets, which produce their own persistent magnetic fields, as well...
. In 1946, he and Simon Ramo (his classmate at Caltech) both became director of research for the electronics department of Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
, and his career became coupled with that of Simon Ramo. Together they formed an incredibly successful team for many years, with Ramo concentrating on investment and general business aspects while Wooldridge led research, development and engineering efforts. By 1948, Hughes had created its Aerospace Group to work with the also newly created U.S. Air Force. Ramo and Wooldridge were particularly concerned when Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
avoided their attempts to discuss the problem. In September 1953 they jointly resigned, and within a week they formed to Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation on September 16, 1953.
In 1958, Ramo-Wooldridge merged with Thompson Products to form TRW
TRW
TRW Inc. was an American corporation involved in a variety of businesses, mainly aerospace, automotive, and credit reporting. It was a pioneer in multiple fields including electronic components, integrated circuits, computers, software and systems engineering. TRW built many spacecraft,...
, which carried on the success of its predecessor. (In 2002, TRW was bought by Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
.) Wooldridge served as president of TRW until he retired in 1962.
He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on September 20, 2006 at Cottage Hospital
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is a hospital in the city of Santa Barbara, California. It is owned and operated by Cottage Health System.It is the only Level II trauma center between Los Angeles and the Bay Area on coastal California...
in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
.
Books
- The Machinery of the Brain, Dean Wooldridge, McGraw-HillMcGraw-HillThe McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
(1971), ASIN: B000GRLHYA - The Machinery of Life, Dean Wooldridge
- Mechanical Man: The Physical Basis of Intelligent Life, Dean Wooldridge, McGraw-Hill (1969), ASIN: B000BTNUHA
- Sensory Processing in the Brain, Dean Wooldridge, John Wiley & SonsJohn Wiley & SonsJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc., also referred to as Wiley, is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and...
Inc (August 1979), ISBN 0-471-05269-8
External links
- Cover picture TimeTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
April 29, 1957