Alumnus parlays USC Dornsife math degrees into society-changing technologies
If you’ve swiped on a tablet to order a coffee, watched a movie on the big screen, or tracked down your phone’s location via the “Find my iPhone” app, then you’ve benefited from the ingenuity of Neil Siegel.
Siegel, who received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Art and Sciences, led early efforts to bring digital technology to the United States military, work that drove technological advancements we now use on a regular basis, including wireless internet and GPS-based vehicle tracking.
His innovations recently won him the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the United States’ highest honor for technological achievements. He accepted his award during a White House ceremony in October 2023.