W. Arthur Porter
Encyclopedia
W. Arthur "Skip" Porter, Ph.D.
, (1941) is an American
educator and businessman from Texas
. He is previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology
under Governor of Oklahoma
Frank Keating
, having serving in that position from 1999 to 2003.
and his Ph.D.
in interdisciplinary engineering from Texas A&M University
. Upon graduating, he joined the staff of Rice University
as an adjunct professor of electrical engineering
. In 1993, Porter became the President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Houston Advanced Research Center
, a non-profit environmental research institution. He would serve in that position for five years.
Porter joined the staff of the University of Oklahoma
in 1998. At OU, Porter would serve as the University Vice President for Technology Development and as Dean of the OU College of Engineering. He would serve as Engineering Dean until 2005 and as Vice President until 2006 with his retirement. Upon his retirement, he was named Professor Emeritus with OU.
Frank Keating
created the position of Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology
and appointed Porter to serve as the first person to hold that office. As the Secretary, Porter oversaw all efforts by the State government to use science and technology to improve government and to better serve the citizens of Oklahoma. Porter worked with Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce Ron Rosenfeld
to promote economic development throughout the State. As Secretary, Porter was responsible for overseeing the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology
. Porter served as Secretary until the end of Keating's term in 2003.
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...
, (1941) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and businessman from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He is previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology
Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology
The Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...
under Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
, having serving in that position from 1999 to 2003.
Biography
Porter earned his bachelor and master of science degrees in physics from the University of North TexasUniversity of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
and his 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...
in interdisciplinary engineering from Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
. Upon graduating, he joined the staff of Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
as an adjunct professor of electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
. In 1993, Porter became the President and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Houston Advanced Research Center
Houston Advanced Research Center
The Houston Advanced Research Center, commonly referred to as HARC, is a 501 not-for-profit organization based in The Woodlands, Texas dedicated to improving human and ecosystem well-being through the application of sustainability science and principles of sustainable development. HARC employs a...
, a non-profit environmental research institution. He would serve in that position for five years.
Porter joined the staff of 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...
in 1998. At OU, Porter would serve as the University Vice President for Technology Development and as Dean of the OU College of Engineering. He would serve as Engineering Dean until 2005 and as Vice President until 2006 with his retirement. Upon his retirement, he was named Professor Emeritus with OU.
Keating Administration
Governor of OklahomaGovernor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
created the position of Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology
Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology
The Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...
and appointed Porter to serve as the first person to hold that office. As the Secretary, Porter oversaw all efforts by the State government to use science and technology to improve government and to better serve the citizens of Oklahoma. Porter worked with Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce Ron Rosenfeld
Ron Rosenfeld
Ronald A. "Ron" Rosenfeld is an American politician and housing expert. Rosenfeld has previously served in numerous U.S. federal and Oklahoma state government positions relating to housing. He served as Chairman of the Federal Housing Finance Board and President of the Government National Mortgage...
to promote economic development throughout the State. As Secretary, Porter was responsible for overseeing the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology
Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology
The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology is the agency of the government of Oklahoma that is responsible for technology-based economic development. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology, OCAST is responsible for fostering innovation in...
. Porter served as Secretary until the end of Keating's term in 2003.