David A. Huffman

David A. Huffman
Born (1925-08-09)August 9, 1925
Ohio
Died October 7, 1999(1999-10-07) (aged 74)
Santa Cruz, California
Residence USA
Alma mater Ohio State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Known for Huffman coding
Awards IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal (1999)
Scientific career
Fields Information theory, Coding theory
Thesis The Synthesis of Sequential Switching Circuits (1953)
Doctoral advisor Samuel H. Caldwell

David Albert Huffman (August 9, 1925 – October 7, 1999) was a pioneer in computer science, known for his Huffman coding.[1][2] He was also one of the pioneers in the field of mathematical origami.[3] David Huffman died at the age of 74, ten months after being diagnosed with cancer.

Education

Huffman earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Ohio State University in 1944, then served two years as an officer in the United States Navy. He returned to Ohio State to earn his master's degree in electrical engineering in 1949. In 1953, he earned his Doctor of Science in electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with the thesis The Synthesis of Sequential Switching Circuits, advised by Samuel H. Caldwell.[1][2][4]

Career

Huffman joined the faculty at MIT in 1953. In 1967, he joined the faculty of University of California, Santa Cruz and helped found its Computer Science Department, where he served as chair from 1970 to 1973. He retired in 1994.[2]

Awards and honors

References

  1. 1 2 Gary Stix (September 1991). "Profile: Information Theorist David A. Huffman". Scientific American. Vol. 265 no. 3. Nature Publishing Group. pp. 54–58. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Stephens, Tim; Burns, Jim (October 11, 1999). "Eminent UCSC computer scientist David Huffman dies at age 74". Currents Online. University of California, Santa Cruz. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  3. ↑ Lang, Robert. "Origami Science Links".
  4. 1 2 David Albert Huffman at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
  5. ↑ "Franklin Laureate Database - Louis E. Levy Medal Laureates". Franklin Institute. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Past recipients for W. Wallace McDowell Award". IEEE Computer Society. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Computer Pioneer Charter Recipients". IEEE Computer Society. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Golden Jubilee Awards for Technological Innovation". IEEE Information Theory Society. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  9. ↑ "IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal Recipients" (PDF). IEEE. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  • Huffman, Ken (April 9, 2010). "My Uncle". Huffman Coding. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  • Haeberli, Paul (November 1996). "Geometric Paper Folding: Dr. David Huffman". GRAFICA Obscura. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  • Wertheim, Margaret (June 22, 2004). "Cones, Curves, Shells, Towers: He Made Paper Jump to Life". New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
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