Emanuel R. Piore
Emanuel R. Piore | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1908-07-19 Vilnius, Lithuania |
| Died | 2000-05-09 |
| Occupation(s) | Scientist, industrial research leader |
| Known for | IBM Director of Research, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, IEEE Emanuel R. Piore Award |
Emanuel (Mannie) Ruben Piore (19 July 1908 – 9 May 2000) was a prominent scientist and leader in industrial research.
Originally from Vilnius, Lithuania, Piore moved to the United States in 1917 and obtained citizenship in 1924. He completed both his undergraduate studies and doctorate in physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Early in his professional journey, he held roles at the Radio Corporation of America, served in the US Navy—notably becoming the first civilian director of the Office of Naval Research—and worked at the Avco Manufacturing Corporation before taking on the position of IBM’s inaugural Director of Research.
During his tenure at IBM, Piore directed the establishment of the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center located in Yorktown Heights, New York, a project designed by architect Eero Saarinen. He was a strong advocate for fundamental research and played a key role in growing IBM’s patent holdings. Piore also initiated the esteemed IBM Fellow program, which allowed leading scientists to conduct independent research. His career advanced through roles such as vice president, group executive, and Chief Scientist, and he served on both IBM’s board of directors and advisory committee. In recognition of his leadership, he was awarded the IRI Medal by the Industrial Research Institute in 1967.
The IEEE created the IEEE Emanuel R. Piore Award in 1976 to recognize exceptional contributions to information processing. Piore was a member of several distinguished organizations including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the United States National Academy of Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. His daughter, Jane Piore Gilman, holds a mathematics professorship at Rutgers University, while his son, Michael J. Piore, is a professor specializing in economics and political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Further reading
- Herman H. Goldstine and Ralph E. Gomory. Biographical Memoirs: Emanuel Ruben Piore. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 145(3):359–363, September 2001.
- Eli Ginsberg, editor. Science and Academic Life in Transition: Emanuel Piore. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers, Rutgers—The State University, 1990.