Joseph Monroe

Joseph Monroe is a computer scientist and the second African American in history to earn a Ph.D. in computer science. He served on the faculties of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Fayetteville State University, and North Carolina A & T State University, and was a founding member of Upsilon Pi Epsilon.

Early life and education Monroe was born in Rowland, North Carolina on May 18, 1936.

Career Shortly after acquiring his doctorate, Monroe accepted a commission from the U.S. Air Force as a second lieutenant while also working for the U.S. Air Force Academy as an associate professor.

During his tenure, Monroe developed several military computer systems, completing projects including the U.S. Army Personnel System, U.S. Air Force Logistics systems, U.S. Air Force Manpower System, and the Armed Forces Intelligence Data Handling System. They had two sons, one of whom, Joseph Jr., became a NASA consultant, and the other, Robert, became an officer in the Air Force.

Awards and honors Monroe has been the recipient of several awards from the United States Air Force Academy including the 1974, 1978, and 1982 United States Air Force Legion of Merit Service Medal for Outstanding Teaching and Research, and the 1987 United States Department of Defense Superior Service Medal for Superior Teaching and Research.

The National Technical Achievers Association of Houston named Monroe National Technical Achiever of the Year in 1992. He was awarded the 1972 Association for Computing Machinery Award from New York City as the first African American to receive a computer science Ph.D., although he was actually the second after Clarence Ellis.