Joseph Monroe (computer scientist)

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 the United States in Rowland, North Carolina on May 18, 1936. He graduated from North Carolina A & T State University in 1962 with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, English and French. He then began work towards his Master's & Doctoral degrees at Texas A & M University, where he acquired his Master's degree in computer science in 1967. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from the same university after another 4–5 years, receiving the doctorate in 1972. Following this, the misconception formed that Monroe had become the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in computer science. However, this honor was claimed a few years earlier by Clarence Ellis in 1969.

Career

Shortly after he acquired 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. From 1978 he served as chair of the Computer Science Department, chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering, and Dean of the Faculty and was appointed as a full professor, becoming the first African American to serve as a full professor for the U.S. Air Force Academy and the first African American professor to be given a tenure permanent professorship at any service academy of the United States.

During his tenure, Monroe developed several military computer systems, completing projects like 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.

Monroe joined the faculty of Fayetteville State University in 1987. While working here he filled both administrative and academic positions on the University's staff. After four years of serving on their faculty, he returned to North Carolina A & T State University where he was subsequently named Ronald E. McNair Endowed Professor and Chair of Computer Science in 1991.

He was a founding member of Upsilon Pi Epsilon, the first international honor society dedicated to the disciplines of computing & information.

Personal life

Monroe's hometown is Rowland, North Carolina. His father was a tenant farmer, and Monroe grew up with eight siblings. Monroe married Sallie McNair, also from Rowland, who died on March 27, 2022. They had two sons, one of whom, Joseph Jr., became a NASA consultant, and the other, Robert, became an officer for 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, Texas named Monroe National Technical Achiever of the Year in 1992.

Monroe was awarded the 1972 Association for Computing Machinery Award from the city of New York as the first African American to receive a computer science Ph.D., although he was actually the second.