Concise Encyclopedia of Tufts History
Sauer, Anne
Branco, Jessica
Bennett, John
Crowley, Zachary
2000
De Florez Prize in Human Engineering, 1964
| The de Florez Prize in Human Engineering, established in 1964 by the bequest of Admiral Luis de Florez, USN (retired), H1946, is awarded to an undergraduate student, ordinarily majoring in psychology, engineering, or science, who has acquired a high degree of theoretical sophistication and demonstrates an interest in the practical application of knowledge to problems of human engineering. | |
Rear Admiral Luis de Florez from New York City received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from M.I.T. in 1912. He wrote the first thesis at M.I.T. on the subject of an aircraft problem, titled "Thrust of Propellers in Flight." As a service career officer in World War I, he worked in the aviation section of the Navy and also on the development of refinery technology. In World War II he received several promotions, finally becoming a rear admiral in 1944. During that time he worked on the development of "synthetic aviation training devices" as well as antisubmarine devices. He had over sixty inventions to his credit. Among his countless honors is an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Tufts University, conferred at commencement in 1946. | |
A pilot for over fifty years, he died in 1962 at the age of 73, shortly after collapsing in the cockpit of his private plane. | |
Source: BTU[Arts and Sciences/Engineering]; 100H | |
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