Background
Cohen, Melvin Irwin was born on June 25, 1936 in New York City. Son of Alexander and Fannie (Becker) Cohen.
Communications systems and technology executive
Cohen, Melvin Irwin was born on June 25, 1936 in New York City. Son of Alexander and Fannie (Becker) Cohen.
Bachelor of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1957. Master of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1958. Doctor of Philosophy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1965.
Engineer, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, East Hartford, Connecticut, 1958-1961;
member technical staff, supervisor, Bell Telephone laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey, 1964-1972;
assistant director, Western Elec. Company, Princeton, New Jersey, 1972-1979;
department head, American Telephone & Telegraph Company Bell laboratories, Murray Hill, 1979-1982;
director, American Telephone & Telegraph Company Bell laboratories, Whippany, New Jersey, 1982-1987;
director, American Telephone & Telegraph Company Bell laboratories, Murray Hill, 1987;
vice president manufacturing Research and Development, American Telephone & Telegraph Company Bell laboratories, Princeton, 1987-1988;
executive director, American Telephone & Telegraph Company Bell laboratories, Princeton, 1988-1990;
executive director electronics and photonics division, American Telephone & Telegraph Company Bell laboratories, Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, 1990-1993;
vice president research effectiveness, American Telephone & Telegraph Company Bell laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey, 1993-1996;
vice president research effectiveness, Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, since 1996. Member panel on assessment of National Institute Standards and Technology Programs, National Research Council, 1990-1996.
Trustee American Telephone & Telegraph Company Foundation, 1993-1996. Member science policy board Rutgers University, Newark, 1993-1996.
Trustee Temple Sinai Summit, New Jersey, 1977-1979, New Jersey Prison Complex, Trenton, 1975-1983. Board advisors Rahway Lifers Program, 1979-1983. Member departmental advisory board Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1988-1992, member executive board Anderson Center for Innovation in Undergraduate Education, 1992-1998.
Fellow Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (3d Millennium medal), Optical Society of America. Member American Association for the Advancement of Science, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Lasers and Electrooptics Society (president 1989, Distinguished Service award 2000).
Married Elaine Chesin. Children: Daniel Marc, Martha Rachel.