Background
Harris, William James was born on June 17, 1918 in South Bend, Indiana, United States. Son of William James and Elizabeth M. (Scott) Harris.
educator research administrator
Harris, William James was born on June 17, 1918 in South Bend, Indiana, United States. Son of William James and Elizabeth M. (Scott) Harris.
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering Master of Science in Engineering, Purdue University, 1940; Doctor of Engineering (honorary), Purdue University, 1978; Doctor of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1948.
Head ferrous alloys branch metallurgy division, Naval Research Laboratory, 1947-1951;
executive secretary materials advisory board, National Academy Science-National Research Council, 1951-1954;
executive director, National Academy Science-National Research Council, 1957-1960;
assistant secretary, planning division engineering, National Academy Science-National Research Council, 1960-1962;
assistant to director, Battelle Memorial Institute, 1954-1957;
assistant to vice president, Battelle Memorial Institute, 1962-1967;
assistant director technical, Columbus laboratories, 1967-1969;
vice president research and test department, Association American Railroads, 1970-1985;
E.B. Snead and Distinguished professor transportation engineering, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1985-1995;
associate director, Texas Transportation Institute, 1987-1995;
senior research engineer, Tension Technology International, since 1995;
distinguished professor emeritus/Snead professor emeritus, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1995-1997;
commissioner, President's Commision on Critical Infrastructure Protection, 1997-1998;
senior executive, President's Commision on Critical Infrastructure Protection, since 1998. Honorary professor China Academy Railway Sciences, 1987. President W. J. Harris, Inc., 1985-1998.
President, Chairman of the Board Piscataway Company, Accokeek, Maryland., 1958-1963. Member National Executive Reserve Department Transportation, since 1983. Senior technical advisor United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, 1987-1991.
Member national materials advisory board National Academy Science, since 1967, chairman, 1969-1970. Secretary President's Committee on Highway Safety, 1969. Member high speed ground transportation advising committee unites states department Transportation, 1972-1974, Maryland.
Governor's Science Advisory Committee, 1972-1976, Maryland. Governor's Energy Council, 1974-1976. President Moyoane Association, 1951-1953, 58.
President, Chairman of the Board Alice Ferguson Foundation, 1966-1968. Chairman of the executive committee, distinguished professors Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U. Served to Lieutenant commander of The United States Navy Reserve, 1941-1945. Fellow American Society Metals, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Metallurgical Society (president 1970), National Academy Engineering (chair program committee 1995-1998, chairman audit committee 1982, finance com.1995-1998).
Member Intelligent Transportation Sys. American (coordinator county 1990-1997, board directors since 1997, chairman North America steering committee 1993-1995, chairman clearinghouse and publication speech committee, world congress board directors, Special award for International Congress Leadership 1995), American Institute Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (director 1964-1969, vice president 1964-1967, chairman institute metals division 1960, Mathewson medal 1950), Engineers Joint Council (board directors 1965-1970, president 1968-1970), Engineering Foundation (chairman research conference committee 1964-1967, board directors 1968-1970), American Ordnance Association (chairman materials division 1966-1968), National Security Industrial Association (chairman executive planning committee 1965-1967, chairman research and development advising committee 1967-1969), Transportation Research Board (Executive Committee 1977-1985, 87-90, chairman county since 1989), National Defense Transportation Association (life, Chairman of Commission on engineering technical), Foundation on Engineering Technologies (chairman 1990-1997), International Heavy Haul Association (chairman 1982-1989), Sigma Xi, Alpha Sigma Mu, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Lambda Upsilon, Sigma Delta Chi.
Married Ruth Laubinger, Aug.26, 1944 (deceased 1977). Children: June Elizabeth Sherren, William James III, Debbie Shafer Hayden, Britta Shafer Kreuger, Barkley Shafer. Married Elizabeth Dotten Shafer, June 24, 1978.