Bernard T. O'Lear
Dates
- Existence: 1964-2003
Biography
Bernard T. O'Lear joined NCAR in 1964. Bernie wrote code for the first General Circulation Model (GCM) of the atmosphere, and in 1965 built the first computer movie—of the GCM—at NCAR. Initially an applications programmer, he later became a systems programmer and helped develop NCAR's first Fortran compiler. He wrote the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the first Mass Storage System at NCAR, which resulted in the procurement of the Ampex TeraBit Memory (TBM) system in 1977. He started the SCD Mass Storage System Group and was a key person in founding the IEEE Computer Society MSS Technical Committee. Serving as project manager for the University Satellite Network (USAN) in the mid-1980s, Bernie became manager of SCD's High-Performance Systems Section in 1986, expanding activities of the group in 1991 to include networking. He became associate director of SCD in 1994 and served in that position until retiring in 2003.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Scientific Computing Division (SCD) Records
Arrangement is primarily by Chronological order within each series unless this was undecipherable due to lack of dates on materials, in these cases original order is used. The collection is housed in 17 boxes and is arranged into seven main series. Series 1: Scientific Computing Division Series 2: Newsletters Series 3: Super Computer Purchase Controversy Series 4: Bernard O'Lear Files Series 5: Computer Artifacts Series 6: Storage Medium Series 7: VHS tapes Series 8: Oversize