Josef Singer

Josef Singer was an Israeli aeronautical engineer who served as president of the Technion from 1982 to 1986.

1923 to 2009President of the TechnionFounding Technion's aeronautical engineering departmentResearch on thin-walled structure bucklingIsrael Prize in engineering, 2000

Born: 24 August 1923, Vienna
Died: 12 November 2009
Occupation: engineer
Education: New York University Tandon School of Engineering

Josef Singer was born in 1923 in Vienna

Singer was born in Vienna in 1923 to a Zionist family of Polish origin. In 1933 the family moved to Haifa, where he attended the Hebrew Reali School. As a youth he was active in the Haganah and earned a pilot's license.

During World War II he served in the British forces as an aircraft mechanic. He then studied aeronautical engineering in London and graduated with honors. After serving in the Israeli Air Force, he earned an MSc in 1953 and a PhD in 1957 at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn under Nicholas J. Hoff.

At the Technion he founded the Department of Aeronautical Engineering and served twice as its dean. He led a laboratory for the buckling of thin-walled structures, and his research was funded by the US Air Force. He became a full professor in 1965.

He headed the engineering division of Israel Aircraft Industries from 1971 to 1973 and later chaired its board. He was president of the Technion from 1982 to 1986. He received the Israel Prize in 2000 and died in 2009.

Milestones in Josef Singer's life

1923
Born in Vienna.
1933
Immigrated with his family to Haifa.
1957
Completed a PhD at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.
1958
Began his first term as dean of aeronautical engineering at the Technion.
1971
Became head of the engineering division at Israel Aircraft Industries.
1982
Became president of the Technion.
1994
Received the Ludwig Prandtl Ring and the Wilhelm Exner Medal.
2000
Received the Israel Prize in engineering and technology.
2009
Died.

Josef Singer served in the military

He was active in the Haganah and served in the Royal Air Force during World War II as a mechanic and cadet pilot. He later served as a technical officer in the Israeli Air Force and was discharged with the rank of Major.