Willie E. May is an American chemist who was director of the United States' National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology. He has been active in international organizations, collaborating with others in Brazil, China, and the European Union.[1]
Willie E. May | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology | |
| In office May 4, 2015 – January 3, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Patrick D. Gallagher |
| Succeeded by | Walter Copan |
| 8th Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology | |
| In office May 4, 2015 – January 3, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Patrick D. Gallagher |
| Succeeded by | Walter Copan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Birmingham, Alabama, United States |
| Alma mater | Knoxville College |
| Awards | Department of Commerce Gold Medal Department of Commerce Silver Medal Department of Commerce Bronze Medal |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Analytical chemistry |
| Institutions | National Institute of Standards and Technology |
| Thesis | The solubility behavior of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous systems (1977) |
| Doctoral advisor | David H. Freeman |
May has made important contributions to measurement science, with application to national and global problems including global warming and food security. He was involved in assessing baseline hydrocarbon levels in Prince William Sound prior to the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. He has developed protocols for the collection of environmental samples suitable for trace organic analysis, including techniques in liquid chromatography.[1]
Early life and education
editWillie May was born in Birmingham, Alabama and received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Knoxville College in 1968. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Maryland in 1977.[2][3][4]
Career
editMay began working at NIST in 1971, when it was known as the National Bureau of Standards, and spent the next four decades at the agency.[2]
In 2014 May was named Acting Director of NIST and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology. He was permanently appointed to both positions in 2015 and confirmed by the United States Senate in May of that year.[5][6] In January 2017 he resigned at the end of the Obama administration.[7] On May 9, 2018, he was named the Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Morgan State University.[8]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b Turner, James M. (February 20, 2008). "African-American Technological Contributions: Past, Present, and Future". NIST. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ a b Boyd, Aaron (May 7, 2015). "May confirmed as NIST director, Commerce under secretary". Federal Times. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ "MIKULSKI STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF DR. WILLIE MAY AS DIRECTOR OF NIST". Barbara A. Mikulski. United States Senate. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ May, Willie Eugene (1977). The solubility behavior of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous systems (Ph.D.). University of Maryland, College Park. OCLC 421857061 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Willie May". NIST. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ "NIST director, Army training and connecting the grid". FCW. May 6, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ "Directors of the National Bureau of Standards (1901 – 1988) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (1988 – present)". NIST. National Institute of Standards and Technology. 16 March 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
- ^ "Willie E. May". morgan.edu. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2023.