Gerald Rosselot
Encyclopedia
Gerald A. Rosselot was a physicist and engineering executive at the Georgia Institute of Technology
, the Georgia Tech Research Institute
and Bendix Corporation
(now owned by Honeywell
). He was an IEEE Fellow
.
and England
and was somewhat proficient in French
. He attended and received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Otterbein College in 1929, a Master of Arts
from Ohio State University
in 1930, and a Ph.D.
from Ohio State University in 1936. In 1930, he married Gladys Anna Dickey, and would eventually have five children with her.
conference, held at the University of Washington
that year).
In 1940, Rosselot was appointed by Georgia Institute of Technology
president Blake Van Leer as the assistant director of the Engineering Experiment Station (now known as the Georgia Tech Research Institute
). From 1941 to 1952, Rosselot was the organization's director, replacing the recently deceased acting director Harold Bunger
. In his tenure as director of Georgia Tech's Engineering Experiment Station, World War II
significantly increased the number and value of contracts coming to the station, and is credited with GTRI's entry into electronics, especially telecommunications and electronic warfare
. At the end of World War II, Georgia Tech had about $240,000 annually in sponsored research. Other accomplishments during Rosselot's administration at the Engineering Experiment Station included the purchase of an electron microscope
in 1946 for $13,000 ($ today), the first such instrument in the Southeastern United States
and one of few in the United States at the time. The Research Building was expanded, and a $300,000 ($ today) Westinghouse
A-C Network Calculator was gifted to Georgia Tech by Georgia Power
in 1947.
Rosselot's administration also included the 1946 establishment of the Industrial Development Council, renamed to the Georgia Tech Research Institute in 1948 and to its present name, the Georgia Tech Research Corporation
, in 1984. When the Georgia Board of Regents
ruled that all money received in a year had to be spent that year; this was problematic because most government contracts span multiple years. Georgia Tech president Blake Van Leer and vice president Cherry Emerson
created the solution, a non-profit corporation that would manage contracts for research services and subsequently hire the Engineering Experiment Station to perform the research. The new organization would also handle patents garnered through research, and distribute funds garnered from contracts and patents as needed.
In 1951, there was a dispute over station finances and Rosselot's hand in the foundation of Scientific Atlanta against Georgia Tech vice president Cherry Emerson
. At one point, Rosselot was president and CEO of Scientific Atlanta, but later handed off responsibility to Glen P. Robinson
; at issue was potential conflicts of interest
with his role at Georgia Tech and what, if any, role Georgia Tech should have in technology transfer
to the marketplace. Rosselot eventually resigned his post at Georgia Tech, but his participation ensured the eventual success of Scientific Atlanta and made way for further technology transfer efforts by Georgia Tech's VentureLab
and the Advanced Technology Development Center
.
as their Director of Engineering. He offered for Georgia Tech to match his potential salary at Bendix, but Georgia Tech president Blake Van Leer felt that such a move would be a dangerous precedent. Rosselot became Director of Scientific and University Relations for Bendix in 1955. Rosselot would later become director of Bendix's Research Laboratories Division, and later vice president. In July 1972, Rosselot retired from Bendix due to illness, and he died of acute leukemia
on August 12, 1972.
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, the Georgia Tech Research Institute
Georgia Tech Research Institute
The Georgia Tech Research Institute is the nonprofit applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
and Bendix Corporation
Bendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
(now owned by Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
). He was an IEEE Fellow
IEEE Fellow
An IEEE member is elevated to the grade of IEEE Fellow for "unusual distinction in the profession and shall be conferred by the Board of Directors upon a person with an extraordinary record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest"...
.
Early life
As a child, Rosselot traveled to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and was somewhat proficient in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. He attended and received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Otterbein College in 1929, a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in 1930, and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Ohio State University in 1936. In 1930, he married Gladys Anna Dickey, and would eventually have five children with her.
Georgia Tech
In 1934, Rosselot came to Georgia Tech. Initially an Instructor in Physics (1934–35 and 1936–37) and Mathematics (1935–36), he quickly ascended through Assistant Professor in Physics (1937–39) to Associate Professor of Physics (1940–41) and later Professor of Physics (1941–43). In 1950, Rosselot was selected as chairman of the Engineering College Research Council (part of the American Society for Engineering EducationAmerican Society for Engineering Education
The American Society for Engineering Education is a non-profit member association, founded in 1893, dedicated to promoting and improving engineering and engineering technology education....
conference, held at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
that year).
In 1940, Rosselot was appointed by Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
president Blake Van Leer as the assistant director of the Engineering Experiment Station (now known as the Georgia Tech Research Institute
Georgia Tech Research Institute
The Georgia Tech Research Institute is the nonprofit applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
). From 1941 to 1952, Rosselot was the organization's director, replacing the recently deceased acting director Harold Bunger
Harold Bunger
Harold Alan Bunger was the head of Georgia Tech's chemistry department and the director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute from 1940 until his death in 1941....
. In his tenure as director of Georgia Tech's Engineering Experiment Station, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
significantly increased the number and value of contracts coming to the station, and is credited with GTRI's entry into electronics, especially telecommunications and electronic warfare
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
. At the end of World War II, Georgia Tech had about $240,000 annually in sponsored research. Other accomplishments during Rosselot's administration at the Engineering Experiment Station included the purchase of an electron microscope
Electron microscope
An electron microscope is a type of microscope that uses a beam of electrons to illuminate the specimen and produce a magnified image. Electron microscopes have a greater resolving power than a light-powered optical microscope, because electrons have wavelengths about 100,000 times shorter than...
in 1946 for $13,000 ($ today), the first such instrument in the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
and one of few in the United States at the time. The Research Building was expanded, and a $300,000 ($ today) Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
A-C Network Calculator was gifted to Georgia Tech by Georgia Power
Georgia Power
Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company....
in 1947.
Rosselot's administration also included the 1946 establishment of the Industrial Development Council, renamed to the Georgia Tech Research Institute in 1948 and to its present name, the Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
The Georgia Tech Research Corporation is an organization that supports research and technological development at Georgia Tech. It was founded in 1937 as the Industrial Development Council to be a contract organization for the Engineering Experiment Station...
, in 1984. When the Georgia Board of Regents
Georgia Board of Regents
The Georgia Board of Regents oversees the University System of Georgia as part of the state government of Georgia in the United States. The University System of Georgia is composed of all state public institutions of higher education.-History:...
ruled that all money received in a year had to be spent that year; this was problematic because most government contracts span multiple years. Georgia Tech president Blake Van Leer and vice president Cherry Emerson
Cherry Logan Emerson (engineer)
Cherry Logan Emerson, Sr. was an American engineer and academic administrator.-Education:Emerson graduated from Georgia Tech with two bachelor's degrees: one in mechanical engineering and one in electrical engineering...
created the solution, a non-profit corporation that would manage contracts for research services and subsequently hire the Engineering Experiment Station to perform the research. The new organization would also handle patents garnered through research, and distribute funds garnered from contracts and patents as needed.
In 1951, there was a dispute over station finances and Rosselot's hand in the foundation of Scientific Atlanta against Georgia Tech vice president Cherry Emerson
Cherry Logan Emerson (engineer)
Cherry Logan Emerson, Sr. was an American engineer and academic administrator.-Education:Emerson graduated from Georgia Tech with two bachelor's degrees: one in mechanical engineering and one in electrical engineering...
. At one point, Rosselot was president and CEO of Scientific Atlanta, but later handed off responsibility to Glen P. Robinson
Glen P. Robinson
Glen Parmelee Robinson Jr. , called the "father of high-tech industry in Georgia", is a founder of Scientific Atlanta, now a subsidiary of Cisco Systems...
; at issue was potential conflicts of interest
Conflicts of Interest
"Conflicts of Interest" is an episode from the fourth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Arc significance:* Garibaldi begins to work for William Edgars. In the process Garibaldi is reintroduced to his ex-girlfriend, Lise, who is currently married to Edgars.* The "Voice of...
with his role at Georgia Tech and what, if any, role Georgia Tech should have in technology transfer
Technology transfer
Technology Transfer, also called Transfer of Technology and Technology Commercialisation, is the process of skill transferring, knowledge, technologies, methods of manufacturing, samples of manufacturing and facilities among governments or universities and other institutions to ensure that...
to the marketplace. Rosselot eventually resigned his post at Georgia Tech, but his participation ensured the eventual success of Scientific Atlanta and made way for further technology transfer efforts by Georgia Tech's VentureLab
VentureLab
VentureLab is a technology commercialization project launched at Georgia Tech in 2001. It has since been adopted by the Georgia Research Alliance for other research universities in the state of Georgia...
and the Advanced Technology Development Center
Advanced Technology Development Center
The Advanced Technology Development Center is a science and business incubator in Georgia. It is part of the Enterprise Innovation Institute at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is headquartered in Technology Square. ATDC was formed in 1980 to stimulate growth in Georgia's technology...
.
Bendix
In 1953, Rosselot joined Bendix CorporationBendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
as their Director of Engineering. He offered for Georgia Tech to match his potential salary at Bendix, but Georgia Tech president Blake Van Leer felt that such a move would be a dangerous precedent. Rosselot became Director of Scientific and University Relations for Bendix in 1955. Rosselot would later become director of Bendix's Research Laboratories Division, and later vice president. In July 1972, Rosselot retired from Bendix due to illness, and he died of acute leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
on August 12, 1972.