John Brooks Slaughter

John Brooks Slaughter (born 16 March 1934) is an American electrical engineer and former college president who served as the first African-American director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). His work focuses on development of computer algorithms for system optimization and discrete signal processing.

John Brooks Slaughter
11th President of Occidental College
In office
1989–1999
Preceded byRichard C. Gilman
Succeeded byTed Mitchell
5th (and last) Chancellor of the University of Maryland, College Park
In office
1982–1988
Preceded byRobert Gluckstern
Succeeded byWilliam English Kirwan (as president)
6th Director of the National Science Foundation
In office
1980–1982
PresidentJimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
Preceded byRichard C. Atkinson
Succeeded byEdward A. Knapp
Personal details
Born(1934-03-16)March 16, 1934
Topeka, Kansas
Alma mater
Scientific career
FieldsElectrical engineering
InstitutionsNavy Electronics Laboratory
ThesisThe solution of a class of optimal control problems by linear and piecewise-linear programming techniques (1971)

Early life and education

Slaughter was born in and grew up in Topeka, Kansas, and attended Topeka High School. After two years at Washburn University, Slaughter transferred and earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Kansas State University in 1956, an M.S. in engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1961, and a Ph.D. in engineering sciences from the University of California, San Diego in 1971.[1][2]

Academic career

He took a civilian position at the United States Navy Electronics Laboratory in San Diego in 1960. He was appointed Director of the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington in 1975. He joined the NSF in 1977 as Assistant Director for Astronomics, Atmospherics, Earth and Ocean Sciences. From 1980 to 1982 he was Director of the NSF.[3]

He was elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering in 1982. From 1982 to 1988 Slaughter served as Chancellor of the University of Maryland, College Park, then served as President of Occidental College in Los Angeles from 1988 to 1999. In 1999 he was appointed Melbo Professor of Leadership in Education at the University of Southern California.

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References
  1. "John Slaughter". The History Makers. Nov 28, 2012.
  2. Slaughter, John Brooks (1971). The solution of a class of optimal control problems by linear and piecewise-linear programming techniques (Ph.D.). University of California, San Diego. OCLC 17797905 – via ProQuest.
  3. Staff report (June 12, 1982). National Science Chief To Leave Federal Post. New York Times

Further reading
  • Kessler, J., Kidd, J. Kidd R. & Morin, K. (1996). Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press. pp. 292–296.
Government offices
Preceded by
Richard C. Atkinson		 Director of the National Science Foundation
December 1980 - October 1982		 Succeeded by
Edward A. Knapp
Academic offices
Preceded by
Robert Gluckstern		 Chancellor of the University of Maryland, College Park
1982-1988		 Succeeded by
William English Kirwan
(as President)
Preceded by
Richard C. Gilman		 President of Occidental College
1989-1999		 Succeeded by
Theodore R. Mitchell
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