Background
Schmitt, Roland Walter was born on July 24, 1923 in Seguin, Texas, United States. Son of Walter L. and Myrtle F. (Caldwell) Schmitt.
Schmitt, Roland Walter was born on July 24, 1923 in Seguin, Texas, United States. Son of Walter L. and Myrtle F. (Caldwell) Schmitt.
Bachelor in Math, University Texas, 1947. Bachelor of Science in Physics, University Texas, 1947. Master of Arts in Physics, University Texas, 1948.
Doctor of Philosophy, Rice University, 1951. Doctor of Science (honorary), Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1985. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Pennsylvania, 1985.
Data Control Language (honorary), Union College, 1985. DL (honorary), Lehigh University, 1986. Doctor of Science (honorary), University South Carolina, 1988.
Doctor of Science (honorary), University of Technology De Compeigne, 1991. DL (honorary), College St. Rose, 1992. DL (honorary), Russell Sage, 1993.
DL (honorary), Hartford Graduate Center, 1995. DL (honorary), Illinois Institute of Technology, 1996. DL (honorary), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1997.
With General Electric, 1951-1988, Research and Development manager physical science and engineering Schenectady, 1967-1974, manager energy science and engineering Research and Development, 1974-1978, vice president corporation Research and Development, 1978-1982, senior vice president corporation Research and Development, 1982-1986, senior vice president science and technical, 1986-1988, retired, 1988. President Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, 1988-1993. Retired, 1993
Board directors Blasch Precision Ceramics, GlobalSpec, Logical Net, Value Innovations.
Chairman NYSTAR, 2000-2008. Board advisors LearnLinc, 1996-2000. Technical advisory board Chrysler Corporation, 1990-1993.
Technical advisory council Mobil Corporation, 1997-1999. Member, past president Industrial Research Institute, 1978-1988. Energy research advisory board United States Department Energy, 1977-1983.
Member National Science Board, 1982-1994, chairman, 1984-1988. Chairman CORETECH, 1988-1993. Member Committee on Japan, National Research Council, 1988-1990, Commercial Development Indiana Advisory Group, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1988-1990.
Executive committee Council on Competitiveness, 1988-1993. Chairman National Research Council Panel on Export Controls, 1989-1991. Member Department Commerce Advisory Commission on Patent Law Reform, 1990-1992.
Advisory board Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1993-1998. Chair Review North Atlantic Treaty Organization Science program, 1998. Member National Research Council panel review state department use science technical and health, 1999.
Chairman research priority panel for National Research Council Future of Space Science, 1994-1995. Chairman Motorola's Science Advisory Board, 1995-1999, International Council for Science, 1997.
Trustee Northeast Savings Bank, 1978-1984. Board advisors Union College, Schenectady, 1981-1984, Argonne Universities Association, 1979-1982, RPI, 1982-1988. Board governors Albany Medical Center Hospital, 1979-1982, 88-90.
Board directors Sunnyview Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, 1978-1986, Council on Superconductivity for American Competitiveness, 1987-1989. Member executive committee New York State Center for Hazardous Waste Management, 1988-1989. Chairman Office of Technology Assessment advisory panel on industry and environment.
Member National Commission Illinois Institute of Technology, 1993-1994. Chair National Science Foundation Academy Research Fleet Review, 1998-1999. With United States Army Air Force, 1943-1946.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (Centennial medal 1984, Engineering Leadership award 1989, Founders medal 1992, Hoover medal 1993), American Physical Society (Pake award 1993), American Academy Arts and Sciences. Member National Academy of Engineering (council 1983-1989), American Institute Physics (chairman 1993-1998), Council of Scientific Society President (chair 1993-1997), New York Academy of Sciences (president council 1993—2001), Directors Industrial Research, Rensselaer Alumni Association (Distinguished alumni award 1993), Eta Kappa Nu (eminent member).
Married Claire Freeman Kunz, September 19, 1957. Children: Lorenz Allen, Brian Walter, Alice Elizabeth, Henry Caldwell.