Thomas H. Lee

Biography

Professor Lee is a member of the NAE, the American Physical Society, a Fellow of IEEE, Chairman of CIGRE Working Group 41.02 on Technology Assessment, and has served on visiting committees of several universities. He has been Adjunct Professor at both RPI and MIT, and Lecturer for the Physics Department at the University of Pennsylvania. His book, "Physics and Engineering of High Power Switching Devices," was published in 1975 by the MIT Press. He is the recipient of 30 U. S. patents and is the author of over 60 published technical papers.

Thomas H. Lee received his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the National Chiao Tung University in 1946, the M.S. in electrical engineering from Union College in 1950, and his Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1954. He joined the faculty of MIT in 1930 and currently holds the positions of Philip Sporn Professor of Energy Processing, Director of the Electric Power Systems Engineering Laboratory, and Associate Director of the Energy Laboratory. Before coming to MIT, Professor Lee spent most of his professional career with the General Electric Company which he joined in 1943. At G.E. he served as a senior research engineer, manager of engineering research, manager of technical resources, and manager of strategic planning. He served as the chief technologist of the company's power system sector prior to joining MIT.

While at G.E., he developed vacuum high power switching devices and also directed the HVDC development using power electronic devices. He was the recipient of the CIE Annual Achievement Award in 1962 for these developments. Professor Lee has held many posts within the IEEE, including positions in the Institute's Power Engineering Society (PES) and the then American Institute of Electrical Engineers which he served as Chairman of the Basic Science Committee. His contributions to PES included service as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Chairman of the Power/Life Awards Committee, and Member of the Administrative Committee. He has also served IEEE as Chairman of the Philadelphia Fellows Committee, Chairman of the Energy Committee, and as a Member of the Awards Board. In addition, he was IEEE Representative on the Coordinating Committee on Energy, now part of the American Association of Engineering Societies, and Chairman of the Board of the Energy for the Eighties Foundation.

Dr. Lee and his wife, Kin Ping, live in Boston. They spend much of their free time with their family at their summer home on Martha's Vineyard. The Lees have three sons: William, a lawyer; and Thomas jr. and Richard, both doctors. All live in the Boston area.

Dr. Lee was awarded the 1983 IEEE Haraden Pratt Award 'For meritorious service to the Institute, for the development of the IEEE Energy Committee, and for promoting public understanding of energy issues.'