Mark Dean (computer scientist) facts for kids

Mark Edward Dean, born on March 2, 1957, is an amazing American inventor and computer engineer. He helped create important parts of computers, like the ISA bus, which lets you add more things to your PC. He also led a team that made the world's first one-gigahertz computer chip!

He even helped design the very first IBM personal computer that came out in 1981, holding three of its original patents. In 1995, he became the first African-American to be named an IBM Fellow, which is a super high honor at IBM. He was also chosen to be part of the National Academy of Engineering in 2001.

Mark Dean also talked about a cool handheld device that could show digital newspapers. By August 2011, he was using a tablet computer instead of a regular PC.

Early Life and Inspiration

Mark Dean was born in Jefferson City, Tennessee. From a young age, he loved technology and inventing things. His dad, James, worked with electrical equipment for big machines like turbines.

Mark's dad often took him to work, which showed him how engineering works. When Mark was little, he and his dad even built a tractor from scratch! By middle school, Mark knew he wanted to be a computer engineer. He went to Jefferson City High School, where he was great at both schoolwork and sports. In the 1970s, while still in high school, Mark built his very own personal computer.

Amazing Achievements and Awards

Mark Dean is a true pioneer. He was the first African-American to become an IBM Fellow. This is the highest technical honor a person can get at IBM. In 1997, he was added to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. This means his inventions are recognized as super important!

He was also elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2001. In 1997, he received the Black Engineer of the Year Presidents Award. From August 2018 to July 2019, Mark Dean was the temporary dean of the Tickle College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee.

To honor his contributions, April 25 is officially known as Mark Dean Day in Knox County, Tennessee. This started on April 26, 2019.

Career Highlights and Inventions

Mark Dean earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1979. Soon after, he started working as an engineer at IBM. His first big project was to create a special adapter for IBM's word processor.

During this time, he also invented the ISA bus. This was a very important invention because it allowed people to connect extra parts, like sound cards or modems, to their personal computers. Because of his great work, he was promoted in 1982 to chief engineer of PC design. There, he led a team that developed the famous IBM personal computer. In the same year, he also earned his master's degree in electrical engineering.

In 1999, Mark Dean and his team made history by developing the world's first one-gigahertz microchip. This was a huge step forward in making computers faster!

Mark Dean also served as the President of IBM's Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California. He was even the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for IBM in the Middle East and Africa for a while. He retired from IBM in 2013. After retiring, he became a professor at the University of Tennessee. He is now the John Fisher Distinguished Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science there.

Mark Dean holds more than 20 patents for his inventions. His work also helped lead to the development of the color PC monitor, which changed how we see things on our screens!