Thomas Mensah (engineer) facts for kids
{{Infobox person | name = Thomas Owusu Mensah | image = Dr. Thomas Mensah.jpg | alt = Thomas O. Mensah | caption = Dr. Thomas Mensah | birth_name = Thomas Owusu Mensah | birth_date = c. 1950 | birth_place = Kumasi, Ghana | death_date = (aged 74) | death_place = | occupation = President and CEO of Georgia Aerospace Systems | known_for = Pioneer in fiber optic technology
| awards =
- AIChE 100, 2008
- Fellow AIChE
- Assoc Fellow AIAA
- Percy Julian Award
- MAC Eminent Engineer
- Fellow National Academy of Inventors
Thomas Owusu Mensah (born around 1950 – died March 27, 2024) was a brilliant Ghanaian-American engineer and inventor. He helped create important technologies like fiber optics and nanotechnology. Dr. Mensah held 14 patents for his inventions. In 2015, he was recognized by the US National Academy of Inventors. He also led the writing of a book called Nanotechnology Commercialization in 2017.
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Early Life and Education
Thomas Mensah was born in Kumasi, Ghana. His father, J.K. Mensah, was a merchant. He shipped cocoa products to chocolate makers in France. Thomas Mensah spoke French very well. He won the National French competition in Ghana twice. This was in 1968 and 1970.
Mensah went to Adisadel College in Cape Coast, Ghana. He studied chemical engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Later, he received a special scholarship from the French government. This allowed him to study at Montpellier University in France. While there, he joined a program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1977, he earned a certificate from MIT. A year later, he received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Montpellier University.
Amazing Career and Inventions
Thomas Mensah worked at Air Products and Chemicals from 1980 to 1983.
Improving Fiber Optics
In 1983, Mensah joined Corning Glass Works. He worked on fiber optics research. Other scientists at Corning had already made optical fibers. But these fibers could only be made very slowly. Dr. Mensah found new ways to make them much faster. By 1985, he increased the manufacturing speed to 20 meters per second. This made optical fibers cheaper to produce. They became as affordable as old-fashioned copper cables. For this important work, Mensah received an award in 1985. His improvements eventually made it possible to produce fibers at over 50 meters per second.
Working with Laser-Guided Missiles
In 1986, Mensah moved to Bell Laboratories. There, he led a project to create the first laser-guided weapons. These were for the US Department of Defense. His work helped develop missiles that could fly at the speed of sound.
Leading Georgia Aerospace Systems
Mensah became the president and CEO of Georgia Aerospace Systems. This company makes special materials for missiles and aircraft. These materials are used by the US Department of Defense. In 2017, CBS Television News featured Mensah. They called him "The Engineer who Revolutionized the Internet."
Mensah also served on the boards of many organizations. He was a trustee for the AIChE Foundation. He was also a board member for the NASA Space Grant Consortium. In 2014, he was chosen as a Fellow of the US National Academy of Inventors. He was also the chairman of Entertainment Arts Research Inc. This company designs virtual reality and video games.
Awards and Recognition
Thomas Mensah received many awards for his work. These include the Turner's Trumpet Award for Fiber Optics Innovation. He also received the Percy L. Julian Award. The National Society of Black Engineers gave him their highest honor, the Golden Torch Award. In 2017, he received the Kwame Nkrumah African Genius Award in Ghana.
In 2017, Mensah gave a special lecture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. After his lecture, he was given an honorary Doctor of Science degree. In 2015, he received the International Business Leadership Award. His work has been featured in magazines like Ebony and Chemical Engineering Progress.
Mensah also published four books. These include Fiber Optics Engineering and his autobiography, The Right Stuff Comes in Black, Too. In 2015, the State of Georgia in the US honored Mensah for his achievements.
