Rutgers research vp Flanagan receives highest science honor

James Flanagan ('48), director of Rutgers University's Center for Computer Aids for Industrial Productivity and vice president for research, is one of eight recipients of the 1996 National Medal of Science, the nation's highest science and engineering honor.

President Bill Clinton bestowed the honor upon Flanagan and the others at a White House ceremony in July.

"The recipients of these prestigious medals are the nation's champions of research and innovation," President Clinton said. "For their leadership and originality, we honor them with America's version of the Nobel Prize."

The National Medal of Science, established by Congress and administered by the National Science Foundation, honors the impact of individuals in the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, social, and behavioral sciences. Including this year's recipients, the medal has been awarded to 344 distinguished scientists and engineers.

Flanagan joined the Rutgers faculty in 1990 after a long career at Bell Laboratories, where for more than 20 years he headed research units whose achievements led to the automation of many functions of the nation's telecommunications network.

As director of the Computer Aids center at Rutgers, he oversees a diverse group of scientists investigating topics ranging from virtual reality to massive parallel computer systems. Since Flanagan joined the center, its researchers have increased external contract support by more than 300 percent and enhanced corporate sponsorship by more than 50 percent.

He also directs the university's $130 million-plus research program.

In addition to his bachelor's degree from Mississippi State, Flanagan holds master's and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He was an assistant professor of electrical engineering at Mississippi State from 1950-1952.