Mark Dean

Early life

Dean was born in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Dean displayed an affinity for technology and invention at a young age. His father, James, worked with electrical equipment for turbines and spillways. Dean's father would often bring him on work trips, introducing him to engineering. When Dean was young, he and his father constructed a tractor from scratch. In middle school, Dean had made up his mind on becoming a computer engineer. While in high school during the 1970s, Dean built his own personal computer.

Recognition Dean is the first African-American to become an IBM Fellow, which is the highest level of technical excellence at the company. In 1997, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2001. In 1997, Dean was awarded the Black Engineer of the Year Presidents Award.

As of April 26, 2019, April 25 is officially Mark Dean Day in Knox County, Tennessee.

Career and Achievements Dean graduated with a bachelors in electrical engineering during 1979. Soon after, he got a job at IBM as an engineer. He retired from the company in 2013 and became a professor at University of Tennessee.

Dean now holds more than 20 patents, and his work led to development of the color PC monitor.

Patents by Mark Dean