Edward Joseph McCluskey

October 16, 1929 (age 86)

New York City

He was a pioneer in the field of Electrical Engineering. McCluskey worked on electronic switching systems at the Bell Telephone Laboratories from 1955 to 1959. In 1959, he moved to Princeton University, where he was Professor of Electrical Engineering and Director of the University Computer Center. In 1966, he joined Stanford University, where he was Emeritus Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, as well as Director of the Center for Reliable Computing. He founded the Stanford Digital Systems Laboratory (now the Computer Systems Laboratory) in 1969 and the Stanford Computer Engineering Program (now the Computer Science Mississippi Degree Program) in 1970. Professor McCluskey leads the Reliability and Testing Symposium (RATS). He has mentored over 70 Doctor of Philosophy students and has an expanding family of academic "grandchildren". He also has a hat collection. McCluskey served as the first President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society. He died on February 13, 2016. McCluskey developed the first algorithm for designing combinational circuits - the Quine-McCluskey logic minimization procedure as a doctoral student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His thesis, supervised by Samuel H. Caldwell, was entitled Algebraic Minimization and the Design of Two-Terminal Contact Networks (1956). At Bell Labs and Princeton, he developed the modern theory of transients (hazards) in logic networks and formulated the concept of operating modes of sequential circuits. His Stanford research focuses on logic testing, synthesis, design for testability, and fault-tolerant computing. Professor McCluskey and his students at the Center for Reliable Computing worked out many key ideas for fault equivalence, probabilistic modeling of logic networks, pseudo-exhaustive testing, and watchdog processors. He collaborated with Signetics researchers in developing one of the first practical multivalued logic implementations and then worked out a design technique for such circuitry.

Edward Joseph McCluskey

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engineer university professor

Background

McCluskey, Edward Joseph was born on October 16, 1929 in New York City. Son of Edward Joseph and Rose (Slavin) McCluskey.

Education

Children by previous marriage: Edward Robert, Rosemary, Therese, Joseph, Kevin, David. Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Physics, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, 1953, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, 1953; Doctor of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1956.

Doctor honoris causa Institute National Polytech. de Grenoble, 1994.

Career

He was a pioneer in the field of Electrical Engineering. McCluskey worked on electronic switching systems at the Bell Telephone Laboratories from 1955 to 1959. In 1959, he moved to Princeton University, where he was Professor of Electrical Engineering and Director of the University Computer Center.

In 1966, he joined Stanford University, where he was Emeritus Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, as well as Director of the Center for Reliable Computing.

He founded the Stanford Digital Systems Laboratory (now the Computer Systems Laboratory) in 1969 and the Stanford Computer Engineering Program (now the Computer Science Mississippi Degree Program) in 1970. Professor McCluskey leads the Reliability and Testing Symposium (RATS).

He has mentored over 70 Doctor of Philosophy students and has an expanding family of academic "grandchildren". He also has a hat collection.

McCluskey served as the first President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society.

He died on February 13, 2016. McCluskey developed the first algorithm for designing combinational circuits - the Quine-McCluskey logic minimization procedure as a doctoral student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His thesis, supervised by Samuel H. Caldwell, was entitled Algebraic Minimization and the Design of Two-Terminal Contact Networks (1956). At Bell Labs and Princeton, he developed the modern theory of transients (hazards) in logic networks and formulated the concept of operating modes of sequential circuits.

His Stanford research focuses on logic testing, synthesis, design for testability, and fault-tolerant computing.

Professor McCluskey and his students at the Center for Reliable Computing worked out many key ideas for fault equivalence, probabilistic modeling of logic networks, pseudo-exhaustive testing, and watchdog processors. He collaborated with Signetics researchers in developing one of the first practical multivalued logic implementations and then worked out a design technique for such circuitry.

Achievements

Edward Joseph McCluskey has been listed as a noteworthy engineering educator by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

Introduction to the theory of switching circuits (McGraw-Hill electrical and electronic engineering series) Introduction to the theory of switching circuits (McGraw-Hill electrical and electronic engineering series)

Logic Design Principles: With Emphasis on Testable Semicustom Circuits Logic Design Principles: With Emphasis on Testable Semicustom Circuits

Logic Design Principles: With Emphasis on Testable Semicustom Circuits by McCluskey, Edward J. (1986) Hardcover Logic Design Principles: With Emphasis on Testable Semicustom Circuits by McCluskey, Edward J. (1986) Hardcover

book

Membership

Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (president computer society 1970-1971, Centennial medal 1984, Emanuel Piore award 1996), Association Computing Machinery (associate editor journal. 1963-1969); member Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society (Technology Achievement award 1984, Taylor L. Booth Education award 1991), American Federation Information Processing Societies (director, executive committee), International Federation Information Processing (charter), Japan Society Promotion of Science.

Connections

Married Lois Thornhill, February 14, 1981. Children by previous marriage: Edward Robert, Rosemary, Therese, Joseph, Kevin, David.

Father:: Edward Joseph McCluskey
Mother:: Rose (Slavin) McCluskey
Spouse:: Lois Thornhill

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book

Introduction to the theory of switching circuits (McGraw-Hill electrical and electronic engineering series)

Logic Design Principles: With Emphasis on Testable Semicustom Circuits

Logic Design Principles: With Emphasis on Testable Semicustom Circuits by McCluskey, Edward J. (1986) Hardcover

Edward Joseph McCluskey

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book

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Awards

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers John von Neumann Medal