The Black Tech Report

Henry T. Sampson, Jr.

Henry Thomas Sampson, Jr. was born in 1934, he attended Morehouse College, but graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University, later he rececied a MS, and PhD.

He is the first African American to earn a Ph.D in Nuclear Engineering in the United States.

Sampson was employed as a research chemical engineer at the U.S. Naval Weapons Center in the area of high energy solid propellants and case bonding materials for solid rocket motors.

His patents included a binder system for propellants and explosives and a case bonding system for case composite propellants.  Pretty much this all just means his inventions were related to solid rocket motors.

TBTR

Dr. Caldwell McCoy, Jr

Dr. Caldwell McCoy, Jr was born June 27, 1933 in Hartford, Connecticut.  He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, MS in Mathematics, and Doctor of Science degrees in Telecommunications.

Dr. Caldwell served in the USAF from 1956 to 1959, as a Combat Flyer with the Stetegic Air Command.  Dr. Caldwell’s employment  with the Naval Research Laboratory involved research on state-of-the-art computer equipment for underwater signaling and detection.  Dr. Caldwell was awarded the Thomas Edison Fellowship in 1968 from his work developing long-range anti-submarine system at the Naval research laboratory.

Later during the 1970′s Dr. Caldwell directed the United State’s largest computer network devoted to a single problem, to analyze the prospect of achieving usable energy from magnetic energy.

In 1983 Dr. McCoy became the Director of Information Systems Program at NASA.  Dr. McCoy was responsible for administering a program with funding in the millions of dollars, involving over 275 government and contractor employees.

Dr. Caldwell established The Caldwell McCoy Jr. Foundation which helps prepare and increase the number of students entering career paths in engineering, science, technology, and mathematics.

Frederick M. Jones

Frederick M. Jones was born on May 17, 1892 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He learned electronic devices largely thought self-taught methods and work experiences.  So education was not his first direction, be he was still able to be granted over 40 patents in the field of refrigeration.

In 1935 he invented the first automatic refrigeration system for long-haul trucks.  This was well received and became adapted to a veriety of other common carries, including ships, and railway cars.

While I’m not sure about this story I wanted to share the significance with you.  It seems Jones inspiration for the refrigeration unit came from a conversation with a truck driver who had lost a shipment of chickens because the trip took too long and the truck’s storage compartment overheated. (This could be fake, so I wouldn’t put too much on the fact that it was chickens **side eye**)

Because of his invention the capability to ship fresh produce across the United States during summer or winter changed the American consumer’s eating habits.  Its seems that now foods that would go back could be kept safe.

Thanks Mr. Jones for your innovation, and understanding that learning on the job really does help you in the long run.

TBTR

Annie Easley was born April 23, 1933 she received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Cleveland State University.  Ms. Easley worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Lewis Research Center and it’s predecessor agency (NACA)

Ms. Easley developed and implemented computer code used in determining solar, wind, and energy projects for NASA.  Her energy assignments have included studies to determine the life use of storage batteries, such as those used in electric utility vehicles.

Her computer applications are used to identify energy conversion systems that offer the improvement over commercially available technologies.

Ms. Easley’s work with the Centaur project helped as technological foundations for the space shuttle launches and launches of communication, military and satellites.  Her work contributed to the 1997 flight of Saturn of the Cassini probe, which was launched by Centaur.

TBTR