Willie E. May

Willie E. May is an American chemist who was director of the United States' National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology. He has been active in international organizations, collaborating with others in Brazil, China, and the European Union.[1]

Willie E. May
Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology
In office
May 4, 2015 – January 3, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byPatrick D. Gallagher
Succeeded byWalter Copan
15th Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
In office
May 4, 2015 – January 3, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byPatrick D. Gallagher
Succeeded byWalter Copan
Personal details
Alma materKnoxville College
Awards[[Department of Commerce Gold Department of Commerce Silver Medal]]
Department of Commerce Bronze Medal
Scientific career
FieldsAnalytical chemistry
InstitutionsNational Institute of Standards and Technology
ThesisThe solubility behavior of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous systems (1977)
Doctoral advisorDavid H. Freeman

May has made important contributions to measurement science, with application to national and global problems including global warming and food security. He was involved in assessing baseline hydrocarbon levels in Prince William Sound prior to the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. He has developed protocols for the collection of environmental samples suitable for trace organic analysis, including techniques in liquid chromatography.[1]

Early life and education

Willie May was born in Birmingham, Alabama and received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Knoxville College in 1968. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Maryland in 1977.[2][3][4]

Career

May began working at NIST in 1971, when it was known as the National Bureau of Standards, and spent the next four decades at the agency.[2]

In 2014 May was named Acting Director of NIST and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology. He was permanently appointed to both positions in 2015 and confirmed by the United States Senate in May of that year.[5][6] In January 2017 he resigned at the end of the Obama administration.[7]

See also

References
  1. Turner, James M. (February 20, 2008). "African-American Technological Contributions: Past, Present, and Future". NIST. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  2. Boyd, Aaron (May 7, 2015). "May confirmed as NIST director, Commerce under secretary". Federal Times. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  3. "MIKULSKI STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF DR. WILLIE MAY AS DIRECTOR OF NIST". Barbara A. Mikulski. United States Senate. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  4. May, Willie Eugene (1977). The solubility behavior of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous systems (Ph.D.). University of Maryland, College Park. OCLC 421857061 – via ProQuest.
  5. "Willie May". NIST. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  6. "NIST director, Army training and connecting the grid". FCW. May 6, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  7. "Directors of the National Bureau of Standards (1901 – 1988) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (1988 – present)". NIST. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
Government offices
Preceded by
Patrick D. Gallagher		 Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
2015 - 2017		 Succeeded by
Walter Copan
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