Ed David | |
|---|---|
| Director of theOffice of Science and Technology | |
| In office August 31, 1970 – January 26, 1973 | |
| President | Richard M. Nixon |
| Preceded by | Lee DuBridge |
| Succeeded by | Guyford Stever (Science and Technology Policy, 1976) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edward Emil David Jr. (1925-01-25)January 25, 1925 |
| Died | February 13, 2017(2017-02-13) (aged 92) Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | Georgia Institute of Technology (BSc) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MSc,DSc) |
Edward Emil "Ed" David Jr. (January 25, 1925 – February 13, 2017) was an Americanelectrical engineer who served as science advisor to PresidentRichard M. Nixon and director of theWhite House Office of Science and Technology from 1970 to 1973.
David was born inWilmington, North Carolina, on January 25, 1925. He earned a Bachelor of Science from theGeorgia Tech, followed by a Master of Science and Doctor of Science in electrical engineering from theMassachusetts Institute of Technology in 1947.
He took a job withBell Telephone Laboratories and worked there from 1950 to 1970, eventually becoming executive director for communications research. Following the resignation ofLee A. DuBridge, David was appointed asRichard Nixon's science advisor.[1] David resigned in 1973, citing "disappointment that his advice had not been heeded."[2] He then took a position as executive vice president of R&D and planning atGould Electronics from 1973 to 1977.
He founded consulting group EED, Inc. in 1977, advising industry, government, and universities on technology, research, and innovation management. He was the president of research and engineering atExxon from 1977 to 1986.[3][4] In 1983, he was awarded theIRI Medal from theIndustrial Research Institute in recognition for his leadership contributions. He joined the Washington Advisory Group in 1997, serving as treasurer until 2004. He also served as director ofRonson.
David was elected to both theNational Academy of Engineering and theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1966.[5] In 1970 he was elected to the United StatesNational Academy of Sciences.[6] In 1974, he was elected to theMIT Corporation and as a life member. He was elected to theAmerican Philosophical Society in 1979.[7] He was awardedThe Delmer S. Fahrney Medal in 1985.
David was also active in public service to his adopted state, serving on the board of the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology (NJCST)[8] alongsideWilliam O. Baker, his former vice president at Bell Labs. In 1982, while still at Exxon, David was appointed by GovernorThomas Kean to the governor's study commission that led to formation of the NJCST.[9] Once the NJCST became a statutory agency with responsibility for the state's programs in science & technology-based economic development in 1985, David was re-appointed to its board and served as chair of its budget committee. During this period, he also chaired the Governor's Roundtable on (High-Temperature) Superconductivity,[10] which was staffed by the NJCST. He left the NJCST board in 1990.[11]
In 2012, David was a co-signatory of an op-ed inThe Wall Street Journal questioning the scientific consensus onglobal warming.[12]
David died at his home inBedminster, New Jersey on February 13, 2017, aged 92.[13]
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Director of theOffice of Science and Technology 1970–1973 | Succeeded byas Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy |
