Officer Profile

  

Gerard A. Alphonse holds the BSEE and MSEE from New York University, and a PhD in Electrophysics from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He joined the RCA Laboratories (now Sarnoff Corporation) in 1959. In January 2003, he took retirement from Sarnoff to pursue his interest in consulting and start-up high-tech companies.

Dr. Alphonse's career at Sarnoff involves pioneering work and major contributions in a broad range of technical areas. From 1959 to 1967 he worked on the development of superconductive devices. His other research activities include original contributions in the development of photochromic cathode ray storage and projection tubes, holography in photorefractive media, broadband acousto-optic deflectors, holographic data storage, ultrasonic imaging for medical diagnostics, videodiscs, optical disc media development. He has served as chief scientist and program manager for the development of semiconductor laser diode arrays, optical amplifiers, superluminescent diodes, the psychophysics of large area displays, vision modeling, and distributed feedback lasers for cesium atomic clocks.

In 1986 he invented and demonstrated the world's highest performance superluminescent diode (SLD), and transferred the technology in 1989 to GE-RCA in Canada, which became a division of EG&G. This device is a broadband semiconductor light source and is a key component in the next generations of fiber optic gyroscopes, low coherence tomography for medical imaging, and external cavity tunable lasers with applications to fiber optic communications. In October 1975 he was appointed consultant to the National Science Foundation for a period of two years.

Besides his technical interest and breadth, Dr. Alphonse has also been involved in education and professionalism. His commitment to engineering education covers 16 years as adjunct faculty in the Electronic Physics Department at LaSalle University's Evening Division, and served for four years as Department Head. He has also taught electrical engineering courses in Linear Systems, Communications, and Microwave Theory at the College of New Jersey.

Dr. Alphonse is the author and co-author of over 120 technical papers and holds over 50 US patents. He has received four David Sarnoff outstanding achievement awards, an IEEE Region 1 Award, and the IEEE Millennium Award. He is a Fellow of IEEE, a member of the honorary societies Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, and a member of the Science & Arts Committee of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

IEEE Activities

COMMITTEES/BOARDS: IEEE Board of Directors (2002-2003), Regional Activities Board (2002-2003), Educational Activities Board (2000), Awards Board (2003), IEEE-USA Board (2002-2004, 1998-1999); IEEE-USA Vice President of Operations (1998-99); IEEE-USA Operating Committee (2002, 1998-1999); USAB Controller (1996-1997). – Chair RAB N&A Review Committee (2003), IEEE Fellows Committee (1999-2001), IEEE Sarnoff Field Award Committee (1999-2002), Chair (2002-2003). IEEE History Committee (2000, 2002). IEEE Corporate Advisory Committee (2000). RAB/TAB Section/Chapter Support Committee (2000) USAB Finance Committee Chair (1996-97); "Today's Engineer" Advisory Board (1997-99); PACE Program Committee (1998-1999; IEEE Finance Committee (1996-1997). ELECTRO International, Board of Directors (1990-93), Chair (1992-93).

REGIONS: Region 1 Director (2002-2003), Region 1 Director-Elect (2000-2002). Metropolitan Sections Activity Council (METSAC), Princeton Section Representative (1994-1998). SECTIONS: Princeton Central Jersey Executive Committee (1992-99); Section Chair (1972); Vice Chair (1971); Secretary/Treasurer (1970).

SOCIETIES:  Member, IEEE Engineering Management Society (EMS Board 2003) and IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEES AND CONFERENCES: Princeton-Central Jersey Section Sarnoff Symposium (1997-98). ELECTRO Professional Program Committee (1982-86); Chair, (1986-87); Electronic Theater Committee Chair (1981-85); Host Committee Chair (1969). INTERNATIONAL SOLID STATE CIRCUITS CONFERENCE: Executive Committee (1975); Technical Program Committee (1974); Technical Digest Editor (1962). 

AWARDS: Region 1 Award (1993); Four RCA/Sarnoff Outstanding Technical Achievement Awards; IEEE Millennium Award (2000).

Updated: 15 May 2007
Contact: Chris Brantley, c.brantley@ieee.org