Leon K. Kirchmayer
- Birthdate
- 1924/07/24
- Death date
- 1995/11/12
- Associated organizations
- General Electric (GE)
- Fields of study
- Power
- Awards
- IEEE Lamme Medal, IEEE Centennial Award
Biography
Leon Kirchmayer was born on July 24th of 1924. He earned a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1945 from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then earned a MS and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1950. He received a Distinguished Service Citation from the University of Wisconsin in 1972.
Dr. Kirchmayer spent his career in the employ of the General Electric Company, eventually rising to the rank of Manager of Advanced Systems Technology and Planning. In his years at GE he pioneered the mathematical analysis, control and planning of large electric utility power systems. By the time of his retirement in 1984, he was author and coauthor of several books, wrote 96 technical papers, and held numerous patents regarding computer control of electrical systems.
Mr. Kirchmayer was a member of the IEEE, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and National Society of Professional Engineering, Operations Research Society of America, and International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE). He was elected to several honor societies, including Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, and Pi Mu Epsilon. And he was he was elected to membership in the prestigious National Academy of Engineering in 1979.
Dr Kirchmayer earned numerous awards and recognitions for his work, including the IEEE Lamme Medal and Centennial Award in 1988 and 1984, respectively. The IEEE Leon K. Kirchmayer Graduate Teaching Award is named in his honor.
Dr. Kirchmayer died on November 12, 1995, in Schenectady, New York, at the age of 71.
