OSA Fellow Theodore H Maiman was born in Los Angeles, California in 1927. He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder for his undergraduate studies, and later studied at Stanford University for his graduate work. He spent his early career at Hughes Aircraft Company in California. There, his work led to the development of the laser, which he debuted in May 1960. In 1961, he left Hughes, and created a number of small companies all meant to develop the laser further. He was widely recognized for his work with the laser, including OSA’s R.W. Wood Prize in 1976.

He passed away in 2007.