Robert E. Machol
Encyclopedia
Robert Engel Machol was an American systems engineer and professor of systems at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management of Northwestern University
. Machol wrote the earliest significant books directly related to systems engineering
. He was also Chief Scientist for the Federal Aviation Administration
, President of the Operations Research Society of America, and an encyclopedia editor.
in 1940 he enlisted in the United States Navy
with the intention to become an aviator. Although he did not earn his pilot's wings, he emerged from World War II holding the rank of lieutenant commander.
Following the war Machol worked for the Operations Evaluation Group of the U.S. Navy Center for Naval Operations and then as editor for scientific articles for the Funk and Wagnalls
Encyclopedia. In 1951, he was hired as the Technical Editor for the University of Michigan's Willow Run Laboratories (which later became the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan
after the Laboratory separated from the University of Michigan). Willow Run was a research organization that was engaged in scientific and applied research in systems engineering, operations research, computer science, and electronics under contract to the Department of Defense. Its principal work, which involved looking for improved ways of defending the United States against air attack, led to the ground-breaking book, "Systems Engineering," co-authored with Harry H. Goode
. By 1958 Machol obtained a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Michigan and became an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering (later full Professor) at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. In 1960 he moved back to Michigan as Vice President Systems of Conductron, a technology startup in an era when there were almost no such startups.
In 1964, Machol became chairman of the newly formed department of Systems Engineering
at the University of Illinois, Chicago. From 1967 to 1986 he was a professor of systems at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management of Northwestern University.
During this career, he also was a consultant to NASA, the Office of Naval Research, and the U.S. Department of Defense. After his retirement from Northwestern in 1987 he embarked on a second career as chief scientist for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) where he worked until 1996.
His early work as scientific editor led to his selection as chair of the Operations Research Society of America’s Publications Committee, and later as editor of a book series, Studies in Management Science and Systems, published by The Institute for Management Sciences (TIMS
).
Machol served as secretary, and later 1971 as president of the Operations Research Society of America and was honored with that organization's Kimball Medal in 1992. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
, the world's premier aviation university, on whose Board of Directors he had served.
Quite beyond his professional achievements, he was widely considered one of the most colorful individuals that the Operations Research profession has ever produced. See, for example, the tribute titled "A Hero Is Nothing But Bob Machol."
At the time of his death in 1998, he was survived by his wife, Florence, a son and daughter, and four grandchildren.
Machol's work involved a number of strands — aviation, scientific writing, systems engineering, chemistry,applying Operations Research to sports, computing, and mushrooms — that intertwined over the years. As indicated by the references, he published in each of these areas.
from the Boeing 757. Eventually, the FAA ordered landing aircraft to increase their distance behind the jetliners.
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. Machol wrote the earliest significant books directly related to systems engineering
Systems engineering
Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more...
. He was also Chief Scientist for the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
, President of the Operations Research Society of America, and an encyclopedia editor.
Biography
Machol was raised in New York City, New York. After graduation from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1940 he enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
with the intention to become an aviator. Although he did not earn his pilot's wings, he emerged from World War II holding the rank of lieutenant commander.
Following the war Machol worked for the Operations Evaluation Group of the U.S. Navy Center for Naval Operations and then as editor for scientific articles for the Funk and Wagnalls
Funk and Wagnalls
Funk & Wagnalls was an American publisher known for its reference works, including A Standard Dictionary of the English Language , and the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Encyclopedia Funk & Wagnalls was an American publisher known for its reference works, including A Standard Dictionary of the English...
Encyclopedia. In 1951, he was hired as the Technical Editor for the University of Michigan's Willow Run Laboratories (which later became the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan
Environmental Research Institute of Michigan
-History:The Environmental Research Institute of Michigan began as Willow Run Laboratories in 1946, but was established as a private not for profit research institute when it formally separated from the University of Michigan in 1972. ERIM contributed to the development of remote sensing for...
after the Laboratory separated from the University of Michigan). Willow Run was a research organization that was engaged in scientific and applied research in systems engineering, operations research, computer science, and electronics under contract to the Department of Defense. Its principal work, which involved looking for improved ways of defending the United States against air attack, led to the ground-breaking book, "Systems Engineering," co-authored with Harry H. Goode
Harry H. Goode
Harry H. Goode was an American computer engineer and systems engineer and professor at the University of Michigan. He is known as co-author of the book Systems Engineering from 1957, which is one of the earliest significant books directly related to systems engineering.-Biography:Harry Goode was...
. By 1958 Machol obtained a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Michigan and became an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering (later full Professor) at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. In 1960 he moved back to Michigan as Vice President Systems of Conductron, a technology startup in an era when there were almost no such startups.
In 1964, Machol became chairman of the newly formed department of Systems Engineering
Systems engineering
Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more...
at the University of Illinois, Chicago. From 1967 to 1986 he was a professor of systems at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management of Northwestern University.
During this career, he also was a consultant to NASA, the Office of Naval Research, and the U.S. Department of Defense. After his retirement from Northwestern in 1987 he embarked on a second career as chief scientist for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) where he worked until 1996.
His early work as scientific editor led to his selection as chair of the Operations Research Society of America’s Publications Committee, and later as editor of a book series, Studies in Management Science and Systems, published by The Institute for Management Sciences (TIMS
TIMS
TIMS is a four-letter combination that may refer to:* The International Molinological Society* Thermal ionization mass spectrometry - see Thermal ionization* Thermal infrared multispectral scanner - see Thermal infrared spectroscopy and 1982 in archaeology...
).
Machol served as secretary, and later 1971 as president of the Operations Research Society of America and was honored with that organization's Kimball Medal in 1992. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university in the US specializing in aviation and aerospace engineering. It teaches the science, practice, and business of aviation and aerospace. Called "The Harvard of the Sky" by Time Magazine in 1979, Embry-Riddle has a history dating back to...
, the world's premier aviation university, on whose Board of Directors he had served.
Quite beyond his professional achievements, he was widely considered one of the most colorful individuals that the Operations Research profession has ever produced. See, for example, the tribute titled "A Hero Is Nothing But Bob Machol."
At the time of his death in 1998, he was survived by his wife, Florence, a son and daughter, and four grandchildren.
Work
Machol's work involved a number of strands — aviation, scientific writing, systems engineering, chemistry,applying Operations Research to sports, computing, and mushrooms — that intertwined over the years. As indicated by the references, he published in each of these areas.
Systems engineering
In 1957, Machol co-authored the book "Systems Engineering: An Introduction to the Design of Large-Scale Systems". This was one of the first authoritative texts in the field. This book covers the philosophy and methodology of systems engineering. It also included chapters which made the book one of the first to introduce Operations Research to engineers. Although coming out of studies of large military systems, its concepts are applicable to systems of all kinds.Aviation
Machol had a lifelong interest in aviation, starting with his days in the Navy. He continued to pursue his interest in aviation as a consultant to the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA). The pilot’s union was concerned with safety issues — in particular, potential mid-air collisions of bunched planes — over portions of the North Atlantic that were not covered by radar. This work resulted in publications on the allowable separation distance between jet aircraft over the Atlantic and led to a protocol that exists to this day – and which has resulted in no mid-air collisions in this space.Aircraft danger from turbulence
Early in his tenure at the FAA, he researched potential dangers to small aircraft created by wake turbulenceWake turbulence
Wake turbulence is turbulence that forms behind an aircraft as it passes through the air. This turbulence includes various components, the most important of which are wing vorticies and jetwash. Jetwash refers simply to the rapidly moving gases expelled from a jet engine; it is extremely turbulent,...
from the Boeing 757. Eventually, the FAA ordered landing aircraft to increase their distance behind the jetliners.
Publications
Machol was the author of several books, including- 1957, System Engineering, with Harry H. GoodeHarry H. GoodeHarry H. Goode was an American computer engineer and systems engineer and professor at the University of Michigan. He is known as co-author of the book Systems Engineering from 1957, which is one of the earliest significant books directly related to systems engineering.-Biography:Harry Goode was...
. - 1960, Information and Decision Processes.
- 1962, Recent Developments in Information and Decision Processes with Paul Gray
- 1965, System Engineering Handbook, Robert E. Machol, Wilson P. Tanner, and Samuel N. Alexander (eds.)
- 1976, Elementary Systems Mathematics : Linear Programming for Business and the Social Sciences
- 1976, Management Science Applications to Sports (Studies in management science and systems; v. 4) Robert E. Machol and S.P. Ladany (eds.)
- 1977, Optimal Strategies in Sports (Studies in management science and systems ; v. 5), Robert E. Machol and S. P. Ladany (eds.)
External links
- Northwestern University obituary
- In memoriam: Reflections and Remembrances by Paul Gray, Lionheart Publishing 1999.
- INFORMS Kimball Medal