# Tad Brian Pinkerton

> Ph.D. University of Michigan 1968

**Wikidata**: [Q102116719](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102116719)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tad-brian-pinkerton

## Summary
Tad Brian Pinkerton is a computer scientist and university teacher. He is known for his long-standing academic career at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and for earning a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1968 under the advisement of Bernard Galler.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1938
- **Education**: Ph.D. in Mathematics, University of Michigan (1968); Master of Arts in Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1963); Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Lawrence University (1960).
- **Known for**: A multi-decade career in higher education and advising numerous doctoral students in computer science.
- **Employer(s)**: University of Wisconsin–Madison (1969–2000)
- **Field(s)**: Computer science, mathematics, higher education

## Contributions
The provided source material details Tad Brian Pinkerton's academic and professional history rather than specific published works or technological inventions. His primary contribution to the field of computer science was through his role as an educator and academic mentor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1969 to 2000.

During his tenure, he guided a significant number of students through their doctoral studies. He served as the doctoral advisor for at least ten Ph.D. recipients, including computer scientists Toby Jackson Teorey (Ph.D. 1972) and David Stephen Wise (Ph.D. 1971). By training and mentoring the next generation of computer scientists, Pinkerton contributed to the growth and dissemination of knowledge within the academic community. His work is part of an academic lineage that includes his own advisor, the notable American mathematician and computer scientist Bernard Galler.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Tad Brian Pinkerton's main occupation?
A: Tad Brian Pinkerton is a computer scientist and university teacher. He was employed by the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1969 until 2000.

### Q: Where did Tad Brian Pinkerton earn his Ph.D.?
A: He earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1968. His doctoral advisor was the American computer scientist Bernard Galler.

### Q: Who are some of Tad Brian Pinkerton's notable doctoral students?
A: He advised at least ten Ph.D. students, including computer scientists Toby Jackson Teorey and David Stephen Wise, who both completed their doctorates at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the early 1970s.

## Why They Matter
Tad Brian Pinkerton's significance lies in his role as an educator and mentor during a formative period in academic computer science. Serving on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin–Madison for over three decades, he was instrumental in shaping the education of numerous computer scientists. His influence is most directly seen through the doctoral students he advised, who went on to their own careers in the field.

As a student of Bernard Galler, a key figure in early computing, Pinkerton represents a crucial link in the academic genealogy of computer science. He helped transfer knowledge and research methodologies from one generation to the next. While the source material does not list specific publications or technologies he created, his impact is evident in the human capital he helped develop, contributing to the intellectual infrastructure of the computer science community through his long-standing commitment to university teaching and doctoral supervision.

## Notable For
*   **Long-Term Academic Tenure**: Employed as a university teacher and computer scientist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for 31 years, from 1969 to 2000.
*   **Doctoral Education**: Earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1968.
*   **Academic Mentorship**: Served as the doctoral advisor for at least ten Ph.D. students, including Allen Leon Ambler, Toby Jackson Teorey, and David Stephen Wise.
*   **Academic Lineage**: Was a doctoral student of Bernard Galler, a prominent American mathematician and computer scientist.

## Body
### Education
Tad Brian Pinkerton's academic journey was focused on mathematics.
*   **Lawrence University**: He received a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics, attending from 1956 to 1960.
*   **University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill**: He earned a Master of Arts in mathematics between 1961 and 1963.
*   **University of Michigan**: He completed his Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics from 1963 to 1968.

### Academic Career
Pinkerton had a long and stable career at a single institution.
*   **Employer**: University of Wisconsin–Madison
*   **Tenure**: 1969 to 2000

### Advising and Mentorship
A significant part of Pinkerton's academic role involved supervising doctoral candidates.
*   **Doctoral Advisor**: His own advisor for his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan was Bernard Galler.
*   **Doctoral Students**: He advised numerous students who received their Ph.D.s, including:
    *   Allen Leon Ambler
    *   Bert Beander
    *   James Bouhana
    *   Dennis Bunde
    *   Robert A. Fraley
    *   James W. Kho
    *   David Reiner
    *   Dinkar Sitharam
    *   Toby Jackson Teorey
    *   David Stephen Wise

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## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project
2. LinkedIn
3. [Source](https://search.library.wisc.edu/catalog/9910026415902121)