Joel S. Engel
Encyclopedia
Joel S. Engel is an American engineer, known for fundamental contributions to the development of cellular network
s.
Born in New York City
, he obtained a B.Sc. in engineering
at City College of New York
(1957). While working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in the research staff at Draper Laboratory on inertial guidance and stabilization systems, he also
obtained an M.Sc. in electrical engineering
(1959). He then moved to New Jersey
and worked for Bell Labs
most of his active research
career (1959–83), and also earned a Ph.D.
from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn on a thesis on data transmission over telephone lines (1964).
He then worked at Bellcomm on guidance systems for the Apollo Program (1965) and at the Page Communications Engineers, Inc. in Washington, D.C.
(1965–67) before returning to Bell Labs where he joined the mobile phone system research group. He also lectured at Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. After the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) opened up new frequencies (1968), his engineering team developed the architecture for cellular network
and its parametrization (1971), which was the basis for Advanced Mobile Phone System
, eventually commercialized (1983).
After a rotation at AT&T
(1973–75), Engel returned to Bell Labs as a Department Head with responsibilities for a broad range of projects. While in this position, Engel received the first publicly placed cell phone call, placed by Martin Cooper.
Engel later joined Satellite Business Systems (1983–86) as VP of engineering, and became VP of research and development at MCI Communications
(1986–87), when MCI acquired SBS.
He was VP of technology and Chief Technology Officer at Ameritech
(1987–97). He is currently president of JSE Consulting of Armonk, New York
.
Cellular network
A cellular network is a radio network distributed over land areas called cells, each served by at least one fixed-location transceiver known as a cell site or base station. When joined together these cells provide radio coverage over a wide geographic area...
s.
Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he obtained a B.Sc. in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
at City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
(1957). While working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in the research staff at Draper Laboratory on inertial guidance and stabilization systems, he also
obtained an M.Sc. in 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...
(1959). He then moved to 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...
and worked for Bell Labs
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
most of his active research
career (1959–83), and also earned a 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...
from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn on a thesis on data transmission over telephone lines (1964).
He then worked at Bellcomm on guidance systems for the Apollo Program (1965) and at the Page Communications Engineers, Inc. in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
(1965–67) before returning to Bell Labs where he joined the mobile phone system research group. He also lectured at Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. After the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) opened up new frequencies (1968), his engineering team developed the architecture for cellular network
Cellular network
A cellular network is a radio network distributed over land areas called cells, each served by at least one fixed-location transceiver known as a cell site or base station. When joined together these cells provide radio coverage over a wide geographic area...
and its parametrization (1971), which was the basis for Advanced Mobile Phone System
Advanced Mobile Phone System
Advanced Mobile Phone System was an analog mobile phone system standard developed by Bell Labs, and officially introduced in the Americas in 1983, Israel in 1986, and Australia in 1987. It was the primary analog mobile phone system in North America through the 1980s and into the 2000s...
, eventually commercialized (1983).
After a rotation at AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
(1973–75), Engel returned to Bell Labs as a Department Head with responsibilities for a broad range of projects. While in this position, Engel received the first publicly placed cell phone call, placed by Martin Cooper.
Engel later joined Satellite Business Systems (1983–86) as VP of engineering, and became VP of research and development at MCI Communications
MCI Communications
MCI Communications Corp. was an American telecommunications company that was instrumental in legal and regulatory changes that led to the breakup of the AT&T monopoly of American telephony and ushered in the competitive long-distance telephone industry. It was headquartered in Washington,...
(1986–87), when MCI acquired SBS.
He was VP of technology and Chief Technology Officer at Ameritech
Ameritech
AT&T Teleholdings, Inc., formerly known as Ameritech Corporation , was a U.S. telecommunications company that arose out of the 1984 AT&T divestiture. Ameritech was one of the seven Regional Bell Operating Companies that was created following the breakup of the Bell System...
(1987–97). He is currently president of JSE Consulting of Armonk, New York
Armonk, New York
Armonk is a hamlet and census-designated place located in the town of North Castle in Westchester County, New York. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 4,330....
.
Awards
- IEEE FellowIEEE FellowAn 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"...
1980 (life fellow) - IEEE Alexander Graham Bell MedalIEEE Alexander Graham Bell MedalThe IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal is an award honoring "exceptional contributions to the advancement of communications sciences and engineering" in the field of telecommunications...
1987 With Richard H. FrenkielRichard H. FrenkielRichard H. Frenkiel is an American engineer, known for development of cellular telephone networks.Born in Brooklyn, New York, Frenkiel earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Tufts University and earned a master's degree at Rutgers University in 1965. Beginning in 1963, he worked...
and William C. Jakes, Jr. - National Medal of TechnologyNational Medal of TechnologyThe National Medal of Technology and Innovation is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology...
1994 With Richard H. Frenkiel - National Academy of EngineeringNational Academy of EngineeringThe 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...
1996
External links
- IEEE Biography of Joel S. Engel
- "Joel S. Engel and Richard H. Frenkiel: Cellular Technology" - MIT Inventor of the Week article