By Steve Frandzel
Elmond Decker ‘51, inventor, educator, and a member of Oregon State’s Engineering Hall of Fame, will be inducted into the Engineering and Science Hall of Fame for contributions in electrical signal technology. His work enabled the United States Navy to produce a new generation of technologically advanced ships that confound radar detection.
The induction ceremony is November 9, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio.
Decker will be honored for his pioneering work in specialized high-frequency wave transmission technology. The state-of-the-art technology, which minimizes radar reflections, has been incorporated into littoral combat ships and a recent class of destroyers.
After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Decker returned home to study electrical engineering at Oregon State on the G.I. Bill. While conducting research for the military during the post-Korean War era, he developed an over-the-horizon radar system to better monitor Russian missile launches and the technology to minimize radar reflections on naval vessels. In 2011, Decker was named to Oregon State’s Engineering Hall of Fame.
After retirement, Decker worked with the Dayton, Ohio, Engineering and Science Foundation to develop science kits and books for school systems around the world.
The mission of the Engineering and Science Hall of Fame is “to recognize and honor engineers and scientists for achievements that significantly enhance the quality of life for humanity.” Its inductees include the Wright Brothers, Charles Kettering, Buckminster Fuller, Alexander Graham Bell, and many others.
