John Roy Whinnery
Encyclopedia
John Roy Whinnery was an American electrical engineer and educator who worked in the fields of microwave theory and laser experimentation.
, in 1937, and the Ph.D.
from the same institution in 1948. Throughout World War II
, he was active in war training classes, held a part-time lectureship at Union College(1945-46), and earned his doctoral degree while working 6 days a week in microwaves at General Electric
, Schenectady, New York, working on problems in waveguide discontinuities, microwave tubes, and applications to radar. He continued his career working on He-Ne laser modulation, the transmission of laser light for optical communication and photo thermal effects. His research evolved to include quantum electronics and opto-electronics as well.
Whinnery was on the faculty of the University of California
, Berkeley
, beginning in 1946, holding appointment as Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Professor. From 1952 to 1956, he directed the Electronics Research Laboratory; from 1956 to 1959, he was Chairman of the Electric Engineering Department; from 1959 to 1963, he was Dean of the College of Engineering at Berkeley. During Whinnery's terms, many of the most successful young faculty were hired to the College of Engineering, Berkeley, specifically in Electrical Engineering, contributing significantly to Berkeley's reputation as one of the premier colleges of engineering in the world today.
Truly a renaissance man, John Whinnery was first a creative engineer, his technical contributions completely warranting him the IEEE Medal of Honor
(1985) and the National Medal of Science
(1992). But he was also a gifted poet, a writer of children's stories, a connoisseur and vintner of superb wines, and a troubled but valiant golfer. From his early youth, after escaping the wilds of Colorado's mountains and the mosquitoes of California's central valley, he composed lovely sonnets for his true love Pat, not only extolling her beauty, charm, and intelligence, but the wondrous world in which they lived. His stories were not only for his own children, but also for those of his younger colleagues throughout the years, including tales of the fascinating creatures of the Mendocino coast. With proper schooling and with dedicated perseverance, he entered the vintner's game, and in his cellar-garage, he has made fine chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, and cabernet. Alas, his many colleagues and friends opine that his brilliance and creativity, and his dedication and perseverance have never followed through in his golf game. But to quote a colleague: "even a renaissance man need not break par."
John Whinnery was a Fellow of the IEEE and of the Optical Society of America, a member of the National Academy of Engineering
, the National Academy of Sciences
, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
. He received the IEEE Education Medal and Microwave Career Award of the IEEE, as well as the Lamme Medal of the American Society for Engineering Education. In 1980 he was appointed University Professor at the University of California
. On leave from the University, he acted as head of the Microwave Tube Research Section of the Hughes Aircraft Company (1951-52), engaged in research in quantum electronics at the Bell Laboratories, Inc., Murray Hill, New Jersey (1963-64) and held Visiting Professorship at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Stanford University. In 1959 he held a Guggenheim Fellowship at the ETH, Zurich, Switzerland. In 1985 he was awarded the IEEE Medal of Honor
"For seminal contributions to the understanding and application of electromagnetic fields and waves to microwave, laser, and optical devices" and in 1992 he received the National Medal of Science
.
John Whinnery's extraordinary talents added a dimension to his career as a distinguished engineer that made him truly unique. His creativity, eye for beauty, personal warmth, and sense of humor had been admired and enjoyed worldwide.
He also served on the board of trustees of Science Service, now known as Society for Science & the Public
, from 1967-1971.
Biography
Whinnery received the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, in 1937, and the Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the same institution in 1948. Throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was active in war training classes, held a part-time lectureship at Union College(1945-46), and earned his doctoral degree while working 6 days a week in microwaves at General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, Schenectady, New York, working on problems in waveguide discontinuities, microwave tubes, and applications to radar. He continued his career working on He-Ne laser modulation, the transmission of laser light for optical communication and photo thermal effects. His research evolved to include quantum electronics and opto-electronics as well.
Whinnery was on the faculty of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, beginning in 1946, holding appointment as Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Professor. From 1952 to 1956, he directed the Electronics Research Laboratory; from 1956 to 1959, he was Chairman of the Electric Engineering Department; from 1959 to 1963, he was Dean of the College of Engineering at Berkeley. During Whinnery's terms, many of the most successful young faculty were hired to the College of Engineering, Berkeley, specifically in Electrical Engineering, contributing significantly to Berkeley's reputation as one of the premier colleges of engineering in the world today.
Truly a renaissance man, John Whinnery was first a creative engineer, his technical contributions completely warranting him the IEEE Medal of Honor
IEEE Medal of Honor
The IEEE Medal of Honor is the highest recognition of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers . It has been awarded since 1917, when its first recipient was Major Edwin H. Armstrong. It is given for an exceptional contribution or an extraordinary career in the IEEE fields of...
(1985) and the National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
(1992). But he was also a gifted poet, a writer of children's stories, a connoisseur and vintner of superb wines, and a troubled but valiant golfer. From his early youth, after escaping the wilds of Colorado's mountains and the mosquitoes of California's central valley, he composed lovely sonnets for his true love Pat, not only extolling her beauty, charm, and intelligence, but the wondrous world in which they lived. His stories were not only for his own children, but also for those of his younger colleagues throughout the years, including tales of the fascinating creatures of the Mendocino coast. With proper schooling and with dedicated perseverance, he entered the vintner's game, and in his cellar-garage, he has made fine chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, and cabernet. Alas, his many colleagues and friends opine that his brilliance and creativity, and his dedication and perseverance have never followed through in his golf game. But to quote a colleague: "even a renaissance man need not break par."
John Whinnery was a Fellow of the IEEE and of the Optical Society of America, a member of the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
, 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...
, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
. He received the IEEE Education Medal and Microwave Career Award of the IEEE, as well as the Lamme Medal of the American Society for Engineering Education. In 1980 he was appointed University Professor at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
. On leave from the University, he acted as head of the Microwave Tube Research Section of the Hughes Aircraft Company (1951-52), engaged in research in quantum electronics at the Bell Laboratories, Inc., Murray Hill, New Jersey (1963-64) and held Visiting Professorship at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Stanford University. In 1959 he held a Guggenheim Fellowship at the ETH, Zurich, Switzerland. In 1985 he was awarded the IEEE Medal of Honor
IEEE Medal of Honor
The IEEE Medal of Honor is the highest recognition of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers . It has been awarded since 1917, when its first recipient was Major Edwin H. Armstrong. It is given for an exceptional contribution or an extraordinary career in the IEEE fields of...
"For seminal contributions to the understanding and application of electromagnetic fields and waves to microwave, laser, and optical devices" and in 1992 he received the National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
.
John Whinnery's extraordinary talents added a dimension to his career as a distinguished engineer that made him truly unique. His creativity, eye for beauty, personal warmth, and sense of humor had been admired and enjoyed worldwide.
He also served on the board of trustees of Science Service, now known as Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public , formerly known as Science Service, is a 5013 non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of science, through its science education programs and publications, including the weekly Science News magazine.Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization...
, from 1967-1971.
Publications
- "Fields and Waves in Communication Electronics," Simon RamoSimon RamoSimon "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...
, John R. Whinnery, Theodore Van Duzer - "Lasers: Invention to Application," John R. Whinnery, Jesse H. Ausubel (Editor)
Selected Honors and Awards
- IEEE Fellow (1952)
- John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship (1959)
- National Academy of Engineering (1965)
- IEEE Education Medal (1967)
- National Academy of Sciences Member (1972)
- ASEE Lamme Medal (1974)
- Named Outstanding Educator of America (1974)
- IEEE MTTS Microwave Career Award (1976)
- Optical Society of America Fellow (1978)
- University Professor (1980)
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow (1980)
- UC Berkeley Engineering Alumni Society Distinguished Alumni Award (1980)
- IEEE Life Member (1982)
- IEEE MTTS Centennial Medal Award (1984)
- IEEE Medal of Honor (1985)
- NAE Founders Award (1986)
- American Association for the Advancement of Sciences Life Member (1988)
- National Medal of Science (1992)
- Okawa Prize (1997)