Walker Lee Cisler
Encyclopedia
Walker Lee Cisler was a noted American engineer
, business executive, and a founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
.
Cisler received a degree in mechanical engineering
from Cornell University
in 1922. He was elected to the Sphinx Head Society
during his senior year. He held a variety of positions at the Public Service Electric and Gas Company
in New Jersey
, before being named in 1941 as chief of the Equipment Production Branch at the U.S. War Production Board
. In mid-1943 he became chief engineer of power plants for Detroit Edison
, but was granted leave of absence to become chief of public utilities for Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
with responsibility for rebuilding electrical power plants in Europe. In this role, he served in Sicily
, visited Russia
, and in August 1944 entered Paris
with General Charles de Gaulle
. By 1945 the French electric system was generating more power than it had before the war.
After the war, Cisler returned to Detroit Edison
as chief engineer, where he subsequently became executive vice president (1948), president (1951), chief executive officer (1954), and chairman of the board (1964). In 1967, Cisler became interested in supporting Northern Michigan University
’s business programs. As a result of this, the University renamed the school of business the "Walker L. Cisler College of Business". The name remains today.
He was active in the early development of nuclear power
, serving as executive secretary to the Atomic Energy Commission
's Industrial Advisory Group in 1947-1948, and first president of the Atomic Industrial Forum
. In 1991 the American Nuclear Society
established a prize in honor of his contributions to development of fast breeder reactors.
Cisler was a founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
, and a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
, American Institute of Management, and American Nuclear Society
. He served as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
, Engineers Joint Council, and Edison Electric Institute
, and received awards from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
, Western Society of Engineers
, American Institute of Consulting Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers
, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
.
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,...
, business executive, and a founding 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...
.
Cisler received a degree in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1922. He was elected to the Sphinx Head Society
Sphinx Head
The Sphinx Head Society is the oldest senior honor society at Cornell University. Sphinx Head recognizes Cornell senior men and women who have demonstrated respectable strength of character on top of a dedication to leadership and service at Cornell University...
during his senior year. He held a variety of positions at the Public Service Electric and Gas Company
Public Service Electric and Gas Company
Public Service Enterprise Group , commonly known as PSEG, and originally known as the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey and then as the Public Service Electric and Gas Company, is a regulated, publicly owned gas and electric utility company in the state of New Jersey, United States. It is...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, before being named in 1941 as chief of the Equipment Production Branch at the U.S. War Production Board
War Production Board
The War Production Board was established as a government agency on January 16, 1942 by executive order of Franklin D. Roosevelt.The purpose of the board was to regulate the production and allocation of materials and fuel during World War II in the United States...
. In mid-1943 he became chief engineer of power plants for Detroit Edison
Detroit Edison
The Detroit Edison Company, founded in 1903, is an investor-owned electric utility which serves most of Southeast Michigan. Its parent company, DTE Energy , provides energy services to a variety of clients beyond Detroit Edison's service area.- History :...
, but was granted leave of absence to become chief of public utilities for Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force , was the headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in north west Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was in command of SHAEF throughout its existence...
with responsibility for rebuilding electrical power plants in Europe. In this role, he served in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, visited Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and in August 1944 entered Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
with General Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
. By 1945 the French electric system was generating more power than it had before the war.
After the war, Cisler returned to Detroit Edison
Detroit Edison
The Detroit Edison Company, founded in 1903, is an investor-owned electric utility which serves most of Southeast Michigan. Its parent company, DTE Energy , provides energy services to a variety of clients beyond Detroit Edison's service area.- History :...
as chief engineer, where he subsequently became executive vice president (1948), president (1951), chief executive officer (1954), and chairman of the board (1964). In 1967, Cisler became interested in supporting Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
’s business programs. As a result of this, the University renamed the school of business the "Walker L. Cisler College of Business". The name remains today.
He was active in the early development of nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
, serving as executive secretary to the Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
's Industrial Advisory Group in 1947-1948, and first president of the Atomic Industrial Forum
Atomic Industrial Forum
The Atomic Industrial Forum was an American industrial policy organization for the commercial development of nuclear energy.Its history dates to Autumn 1952, when it was being first organized:...
. In 1991 the American Nuclear Society
American Nuclear Society
The American Nuclear Society is an international, not-for-profit 501 scientific and educational organization with a membership of approximately 11,000 scientists, engineers, educators, students, and other associate members. Approximately 900 members live outside the United States in 40 countries....
established a prize in honor of his contributions to development of fast breeder reactors.
Cisler was a founding 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...
, and a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
, American Institute of Management, and American Nuclear Society
American Nuclear Society
The American Nuclear Society is an international, not-for-profit 501 scientific and educational organization with a membership of approximately 11,000 scientists, engineers, educators, students, and other associate members. Approximately 900 members live outside the United States in 40 countries....
. He served as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
, Engineers Joint Council, and Edison Electric Institute
Edison Electric Institute
The Edison Electric Institute is the association of United States shareholder-owned electric power companies. Its members serve 95 percent of the ultimate customers in the shareholder-owned segment of the industry, and represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. electric power industry...
, and received awards from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
, Western Society of Engineers
Western Society of Engineers
The Western Society of Engineers is a professional and educational organization founded in Chicago, U.S. on May 25, 1869 as the Civil Engineers' Club of the Northwest. In 1880 the club was incorporated as the Western Society of Engineers. The organization is devoted to the development of...
, American Institute of Consulting Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers
National Society of Professional Engineers
The National Society of Professional Engineers is a professional engineering organization in the United States. From their press releases:...
, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
.