Andrew Chraplyvy

Andrew R. Chraplyvy received the B.S. degree in physics in 1972 from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from Cornell University in 1975 and 1977, respectively. He joined the physics department at General Motors Research Labs in 1977 as a Senior Research Scientist where he studied vibrational modes of gases and impurity modes in solids using ultra-high resolution spectroscopy. Since 1980, he has been with Bell Laboratories, where he currently is Optical Technologies Research Vice President. He holds over 35 patents in the areas of lightwave systems and fiber optics. Along with Bob Tkach, Andy invented a new type of optical fiber, NZDF, that is widely deployed in intercontinental and long-haul terrestrial networks. In addition they are responsible for a number of inventions that greatly increased the capacity and speed of optical networks. These inventions and technologies are found in most high-capacity networks worldwide.

2013 IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal, 2009 Marconi Prize, 2003 IEEE/OSA John Tyndall Award, 1999 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award, 1999 New Jersey Inventor of the Year Award, 1998 Lucent Technologies Patent Award, the Bell Laboratories President’s Gold Award on four separate occasions, inducted into the NJ Inventors Hall of Fame in 2010. Member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Bell Labs Fellow, a Marconi Fellow, Fellow of the Optical Society of America, and Fellow of IEEE.