Robert D. Maurer

Biography

Robert D. Maurer was born on July 20, 1924. He received his B.S. in physics (1948) and his PhD, also in physics (1951), from the University of Arkansas and the Massachussetts Institute of Technology, respectively.

Maurer joined Corning Glass Works in 1952 as a research physicist in its research and development department. As he progressed in his career at Corning, Maurer progressed to become a senior research associate and eventually, manager of the fundamental physics department. Maurer became a research fellow in 1978, and in 1989, retired from Corning.

Maurer is credited for revolutionizing the field of telecommunications. In 1970 he, along with his colleagues Donald Keck and Peter C. Schultz, created the very first optical fiber with optical losses low enough to be able to be utilized for telecommunications.

Maurer is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and a fellow of the IEEE, American Ceramic Society, and American Physical Society. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the 1978 IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Award. In 1993, Maurer was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.