Percy Anthony Pierre (born January 3, 1939) is an American electrical engineer and academic administrator specializing in signal processing, stochastic processes, and the statistical analysis of communications systems. He received his doctorate degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1967, and is recognized as the first African-American to receive a Ph.D. in electrical engineering.Whiting School of Engineering (November 10, 2021). Doctoral fellowship program honors legacy of pathfinder Percy Pierre, PhD '67. Johns Hopkins University. His early research on non-Gaussian random processes and signal detection, funded by the Navy for sonar applications, resulted in twelve publications in leading mathematics and engineering journals between 1969 and 1971.
In the 1970s, Pierre was a principal architect of the first national engineering education program for minority students."Changing the Face of Engineering: The African American Experience," edited by John Brooks Slaughter, Yu Tao, and Willie Pearson Jr., Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2015 From 1977 to 1981, he served as assistant secretary of the U.S. Army for research, development, and acquisition, where he oversaw the development of the M1 Abrams tank, MIM-104 Patriot missile system, and AH-64 Apache helicopter. As a university administrator, he was dean of engineering at Howard University, president of Prairie View A&M University, and vice president for research and graduate studies at Michigan State University.The History Makers Biography of Percy Pierre He is a graduate and former trustee of Notre Dame University, and is currently Glenn L. Martin Endowed Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland.
Early life and education Pierre was born on January 3, 1939, to Rosa Villavaso and Percy John Pierre in Welcome, St. James Parish, Louisiana. In 1957, Pierre graduated from St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. He credits the priests at St. Augustine with instilling in him two overriding missions: to excel intellectually in engineering and use his career to make a difference in the lives of other African-Americans.Between Law and Hope: St. Augustine High School News Orleans, Louisiana, by Matthew J. O'Rourke; published by the Josephite Fathers and Brothers; 2003
Pierre attended the University of Notre Dame on scholarship, earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering in 1961 and 1963.Black Domers: Seventy Years at Notre Dame, Edited by Don Wycliff and David Krashna; published by Corby Books, Division of Corby Publishing Notre Dame, Ind.; distributed by ACTA Publications, Chicago. 2014pps 73-79: Percy A. Pierre, 1961, 1961, PNDP 0170-bl-2. Notre Dame Printed and Reference Material, NDP. University of Notre Dame Archives. https://archivesspace.library.nd.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/862544 Accessed March 05, 2025. In 1977, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Notre Dame in recognition of his public service, and in 2022, he received the Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award.
Pierre earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at Johns Hopkins University in 1967, the first African American to receive a doctorate degree in electrical engineering. At Johns Hopkins, Pierre focused on signal processing and began his work on non-Gaussian random representations, specifically in the statistical analysis of communications systems.JHU Engineering Magazine (July 2009). A Forward-Thinking Career. Johns Hopkins University. His dissertation research, funded by the Navy, had applications in the understanding and use of underwater sonar. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan from 1967 to 1968.
Research Pierre's research focused on stochastic processes in communications systems, particularly non-Gaussian random processes and their applications to signal detection and estimation theory.Percy A. Pierre. Mathematicians of the African Diaspora, University at Buffalo. Between 1969 and 1971, he published twelve papers in leading mathematics and engineering journals, establishing foundational work in the field.
His publications during this period appeared in the Annals of Mathematical Statistics, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics, Zeitschrift für Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie und Verwandte Gebiete, Information and Control, and the Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications.Prior Research and Education Publications and Grants. Michigan State University College of Engineering. His work addressed topics including central limit theorems for conditionally linear random processes, the characterization of Gaussian random processes, singular non-Gaussian measures in detection and estimation theory, and the convergence of error probabilities for signal detection.
Pierre continued research throughout his administrative career. In 1990, he received a $236,000 grant from the Office of Naval Research for research on "Linear White Noise Models of Samples of Stationary, Non-Gaussian, Band Limited Signals in Noise." He taught graduate and undergraduate courses in probability and statistics, information theory, and electronic communications at the University of Michigan, UCLA, Howard University, Morgan State University, Southern University, and Prairie View A&M University.
Career
Pierre began his career as a researcher at the Rand Corporation in 1968. He served as a White House Fellow in 1969,Caplan, Lincoln (2019). A Gamut of Leaders: The White House Fellows Class of 1969–70 after 50 Years. 6, 8. working for Daniel "Pat" Moynihan on domestic affairs during the Nixon administration. From 1969 to 1970, he worked as deputy to the Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs.
Howard University In 1971, Pierre was named Dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences (CEACS) at Howard University. During his tenure, he introduced master's degree programs in urban systems engineering and computer science, and doctoral programs in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. In his role as dean, he co-chaired the first National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Symposium in 1973, which attracted more than 230 academic, corporate, and government representatives. The symposium's participants discussed the engineering education system and how minority engineering students interacted within that system.Pierre, Percy A., and Catherine Weinberger (September 26, 2024). The 50-Year History of the Minority Engineering Effort: How the Engineering Profession Sparked the Movement to Diversify Its Workforce. National Academy of Engineering.Proceedings: Symposium on Increasing Minority Participation in Engineering: Commission on Education, National Academy of Engineering, Washington D.C. 1973. Pierre was considered a leader in developing and implementing programs to recruit, retain, and graduate engineering students from diverse populations.
During his tenure at Howard, he was invited to work as a half-time program officer with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation."Sloan Fund to Spur Minority Engineers", New York Times, October 10, 1973, p. 10 The Sloan Foundation supported the 1973 NAE Symposium and committed $12 - $15 million over a five to seven year period for a special program for minorities in engineering. In his role, Pierre helped to establish numerous minority engineering organizations to increase the financial support and mentoring opportunities available for minority engineering students. These include the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME); National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science (GEM); Math, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA); and Southeastern Consortium of Minorities in Engineering (SECME).
U.S. Army In 1977, Pierre was named assistant secretary for research, development, and regulation of the U.S. Army, the first African-American to hold that position or similar position in the armed services.Negative Strips #78/051: Percy Pierre, Assistant Secretary for Research, Development, and Regulation for the U.S. Department of the Army, in office, circa 1978, GNDM 12/10, Box: GNDM 12, Folder: 10. Notre Dame Magazine Records, NDM. University of Notre Dame Archives. https://archivesspace.library.nd.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/1287633 Accessed March 05, 2025. Pierre managed a $12 billion annual budget for research and development that included the completion of the development and initial production of the Abrams tank in 1979 and the Patriot missile system and Apache helicopter in 1980.
In January 1981, he was named Acting Secretary of the U. S. Army, the first African-American appointed to that position.Bell, William Gardner (1992). Secretaries of War and Secretaries of the Army: Portraits and Biographical Sketches. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History.
Prairie View A&M University In 1983, Pierre was elected President of Prairie View A&M University. Past Presidents. Prairie View A&M University. During his tenure, he established the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering Technology and the Benjamin Banneker Honors College. In addition, he oversaw the renovation and reopening of the campus' John B. Coleman Library. Founding of the John B. Coleman Library from 1988. Prairie View A&M University.
Michigan State University In 1990, Pierre joined Michigan State University as vice president of research and graduate studies, and professor of electrical and computer engineering. During his 28-year tenure, he mentored more than 200 graduate students in engineering. In 2018, he announced his retirement from Michigan State.College of Engineering (November 30, 2018). Professor Percy Pierre retires. Michigan State University.
University of Maryland In 2019, Pierre was named an Adjunct Professor and Glenn L. Martin Endowed Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland. Percy A. Pierre. A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland.
Personal On August 8, 1965, Pierre married Olga Agnes Markham. Percy and Olga Pierre on Their Wedding Day. Archival photo. The History Makers. The couple had two daughters, Kristin and Allison. In 2024, Olga Markham Pierre (b. 1940) died from pancreatic cancer complications. Obituary: Olga Markham Pierre. Collins Funeral Home.
Honors and awards
Pierre has received numerous professional accolades and awards. The following is a representative sample:
1977: Honorary Doctoral Degree, The University of Notre Dame1977 Commencement - Honorary Degree Recipient - Portraits of Dean Percy A. Pierre, GDIS 34/36, Box: GDIS 34, Folder: 36. Notre Dame: Department of Information Services Records, DIS. University of Notre Dame Archives. https://archivesspace.library.nd.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/1968505 Accessed March 05, 2025. 1979: Senator Proximire Award for Excellence, US Congress, for presentations of the Department of the Army's Research Development, and Acquisition Budgets for FY 79 1980: Senator Proximire Award for Excellence, US Congress, for presentations of the Department of the Army's Research Development, and Acquisition Budgets for FY 80 1981: Distinguished Service Medal, US Army 1984: Honorary Doctoral Degree, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1984: Reginald Jones Award, National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering 1990: Regents Visiting Professor, University of California at Berkeley 1993: Superior Public Service Award, US Navy 1997: Frazier Thompson Pioneer Award, Black Alumni of the University of Notre Dame 2003: Frederick Scott Award, Society of Black Alumni of the Johns Hopkins University 2003: The Golden Torch Award, National Society of Black Engineers 2004: Diversity Award, Michigan State University 2004: Founder's Award, National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering