# Larry H. Reeker

> Ph.D. Carnegie Mellon University 1974

**Wikidata**: [Q102271970](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102271970)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/larry-h-reeker

## Summary  
Larry H. Reeker (1943 – 2012) was an American computer scientist who earned his Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University in 1974 under the mentorship of Allen Newell and Herbert Simon. He held faculty positions at several universities and senior research roles at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Science Foundation, contributing to the development of computing standards and research policy.

## Biography  
- **Born:** 1943‑02‑02, Spokane, United States  
- **Nationality:** United States  
- **Education:** Ph.D. in Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University (1974); also attended Yale University  
- **Known for:** Pioneering research in computer science and leadership in federal research agencies and standards development  
- **Employer(s):** Ohio State University; University of Oregon; University of Arizona; University of Queensland; Tulane University; Braddock Dunn & McDonald (BDM Corporation); Institute for Defense Analyses; National Science Foundation; National Institute of Standards and Technology  
- **Field(s):** Computer Science  

## Contributions  
Larry Reeker’s career spanned academia, government, and industry, allowing him to influence multiple facets of computer science. After completing his doctorate under two of the field’s most influential scholars—Allen Newell and Herbert Simon—he joined the faculty of several universities, where he taught courses in algorithms, software engineering, and artificial intelligence and supervised graduate research. At the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Reeker contributed to the formulation of measurement and testing standards that underpinned reliable software development for critical systems. His work with the National Science Foundation involved shaping funding priorities for emerging computing research, helping to launch programs that supported early work in high‑performance computing and cybersecurity. While at the Institute for Defense Analyses, he applied computer‑science methods to national‑security problems, producing technical reports that informed defense policy. Throughout his career, Reeker authored numerous peer‑reviewed papers and technical reports, many of which are indexed in DBLP (author ID 43/2319) and IEEE Xplore (author ID 37088326155), reflecting a sustained contribution to both theory and practice.

## FAQs  
### Q: When and where was Larry H. Reeker born?  
A: He was born on 2 February 1943 in Spokane, United States.  

### Q: Which university awarded Larry H. Reeker his doctorate?  
A: He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University in 1974.  

### Q: What major federal agencies did Larry H. Reeker work for?  
A: He held senior research positions at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).  

### Q: Who were Larry H. Reeker’s doctoral advisors?  
A: His dissertation was supervised by Allen Newell and Herbert Simon, both pioneers in artificial intelligence and cognitive science.  

### Q: When did Larry H. Reeker pass away?  
A: He died on 6 April 2012 in Wilmington, United States.  

## Why They Matter  
Larry H. Reeker bridged the gap between theoretical computer science and practical standards that govern modern software systems. By working at NIST, he helped codify testing and measurement practices that ensure reliability in safety‑critical applications, from aerospace to medical devices. His influence at the NSF shaped funding streams that nurtured early research in high‑performance and secure computing, seeding technologies that underpin today’s cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity defenses. In academia, his mentorship of graduate students propagated the analytical rigor of his advisors, Newell and Simon, to new generations of researchers. Without Reeker’s contributions to standards development and research policy, the evolution of trustworthy computing practices and the strategic direction of U.S. computing research could have been markedly slower.  

## Notable For  
- **Doctoral mentorship:** Completed his Ph.D. under Allen Newell and Herbert Simon, two foundational figures in AI and cognitive science.  
- **Federal standards work:** Played a key role in developing computing standards at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.  
- **Research policy leadership:** Influenced national research agendas while serving at the National Science Foundation.  
- **Broad academic footprint:** Held faculty appointments at five major universities across the United States and Australia.  
- **Extensive publication record:** Authored numerous papers indexed in DBLP, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library, reflecting a lasting scholarly impact.  

## Body  

### Early Life and Education  
Larry H. Reeker was born on 2 February 1943 in Spokane, Washington. He pursued higher education at Yale University before enrolling in the Ph.D. program at Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned his doctorate in 1974. His dissertation was jointly supervised by Allen Newell and Herbert Simon, positioning him within a lineage of pioneering work in artificial intelligence and cognitive modeling.  

### Academic Career  
Reeker’s academic appointments included:  

- **Ohio State University** – teaching and research in computer science.  
- **University of Oregon** – faculty member focusing on software engineering.  
- **University of Arizona** – senior lecturer in algorithms and systems design.  
- **University of Queensland** – visiting professor, collaborating on international research projects.  
- **Tulane University** – professor of computer science, mentoring graduate students.  

Across these roles, he developed curricula, supervised theses, and contributed to departmental growth.  

### Government and Industry Roles  

- **National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):** Reeker contributed to the creation of measurement and testing standards for software reliability, influencing industry best practices.  
- **National Science Foundation (NSF):** He helped design funding programs that supported emerging areas such as high‑performance computing and cybersecurity.  
- **Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA):** Applied computational methods to defense analyses, producing technical reports for policy makers.  
- **Braddock Dunn & McDonald (BDM Corporation):** Engaged in applied research projects linking academic theory to commercial technology development.  

### Research Impact  
Reeker’s scholarly output includes peer‑reviewed articles in leading computer‑science venues, technical reports for federal agencies, and contributions to standards documents. His work is catalogued in major bibliographic databases (DBLP author ID 43/2319, IEEE Xplore author ID 37088326155, ACM Digital Library author ID 81100570387). These publications have been cited in subsequent research on software testing, system reliability, and computational methods for defense.  

### Legacy  
Through his interdisciplinary career, Reeker fostered connections between academia, government, and industry. His mentorship of students and collaboration with senior scientists helped propagate rigorous research methods. The standards he helped shape continue to underpin safety‑critical software, while his policy work at NSF set the stage for modern computing research initiatives.  

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## References

1. [Source](https://www.yale64.org/remembrances/reeker.htm)
2. Mathematics Genealogy Project