Famous People with Engineering Degrees
Engineers have long been an integral part of U.S. economic and business development, thanks to their inventions. But engineering is even more pervasive than that in the work world. Many famous and influential people earned engineering degrees before going off into very different ventures.
The Usual Suspects: Engineering Greats
If you know any of the names below, you're probably not surprised that they have an engineering degree or background.- Henry Ford:The mastermind of the Model T was an engineer for the Edison Illuminating Co. and was Chief Engineer of the company in 1893.
- Grace Murray Hopper: A computer engineer, she developed the first computer compiler and created the COBOL computer program language. Hopper was also one of the first women to become a Rear Admiral in the Navy.
- Eli Whitney: The creator of the cotton gin studied mechanical engineer.
- Bill Nye: This popular science TV show host earned a mechanical engineering degree.
The Unusual Suspects: Surprising Engineers
You're probably not shocked that the man who calls himself the "Science Guy" has an engineering degree, but what about our 39th president? Here are a few unexpected engineering greats.- Lee Iacocca: The iconic automotive industry man holds a Master's Degree in Engineering.
- Jimmy Carter: The 39th President of the U.S. got his engineering background in the U.S. Naval Academy and did studies in reactor technology and nuclear physics later on.
- Alfred Hitchcock: The psychological thriller director and producer trained as an engineer at Saint Ignatius College.
- Montel Williams: You read correctly. Williams was highly decorated as a Naval engineer before he began his talk show TV career.
Online College Degree and Engineering Opportunities
For most of these engineers, a university degree was a critical first step to successful careers. An online college makes getting a degree a lot easier for busy professionals and would-be computer engineers. An online college gets you into a degree program right in the thick of Web development and computer innovation. Whatever engineering online college degree program you choose, an engineering degree could be your path to fame, but it may not be where you'd expect it.Source
About the Author
James Tolles is a freelance writer and holds two B.A. degrees, one in Creative Writing and the other in History.
