Professor Emeritus
Bobbie Leon Foote PhD, was educated at the University of Oklahoma. He earned a BS in Mathematics (qualified) which means that graduate courses were a part of his curriculum with a minor in Physics plus 6 additional credits in Physics, an MA in Mathematics with a minor in History of Science, completed coursework and qualifying exams for a Doctorate in Mathematics, was awarded a Ford Fellowship for a doctorate in Industrial and Systems Engineering. He was appointed Assistant Professor in Jan 1967.
Dr. Foote served at OU for 30 years and was a two time Director of Industrial Engineering. During this time he received The Merrick Foundation Award for his creation of Senior Design Projects in its current form. Dozens of Engineering Schools use this model including Systems Engineering at West Point. He is a multiple NSF grantee. Engineering contributions include the design (with others) of the electric power system of OG&E, the electric power company in central Oklahoma, The inventory forecasting system for spare parts demand and the mathematical purchasing model for the USN at the Aviation Supply Office in Phil, Pa which saved over two Billion dollars in an 8 year period based on Navy audits. He has five award winning papers and was a finalist for the Edelman Prize for his design (with others) of Tinker AFB after it burned down in 1974. Lead time was cut in half with zero critical defects for two years, 10% fewer workers, and half the equipment based on a unique modular manufacturing cell design. This design was a model for ASO to contract in a new way which reduced cost by 30% for 500 parts. In 1968 he designed the first system forecasting model for the USPS which was used until the early 90's based on input output analysis. The principles are still in use. He designed a mechanical teaching machine program that trained future USPS supervisors in Mathematics, still in use in the early 90's. A generalist, he taught graduate and undergraduate courses in over 14 different areas which include genetic algorithms.
He was a winner of the Merrick Foundation teaching award.
He introduced Variational Analysis (based on the Calculus of Variations) to Meteorology PhD students and faculty via courses, committee membership and faculty observation of a course. This technique applied and developed by Professor Yoshi Sasaki and his students is now the basis of all meteorological calculations using first principles of thermodynamics. Joe Friday, head, of the NWS was my student in the exploratory class.
After retirement Dr. Foote served as a consultant with Rear Admiral Eckelberger. Accomplishments include raising the revenue of a lumber company six fold by financial, logistical and plant redesign using LP and other tools, and reorganizing Compaq Computer Corporation to reverse a slide toward bankruptcy. As an individual consultant he designed the system and future facility for abused children for the Laura Dester Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dr Foote was called to West Point Systems Engineering in August 17 of 2001. After he retired in 2006 he was awarded the US Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal. Accomplishments include heading the team (funding PI) that designed the next generation Missile Defense System, elements of this system have been contracted, CRAM, the Vulture and a sensor carrying blimp. He received a commendation from Land Warrior for finding a flaw in the battery system (Land Warrior was just deployed in force in Afghanistan), with COL Andy Glen developed the mathematics for a general statistical test that was powerful enough and unique enough to give Systems Engineering its first patent ever. He received the John K. Walker award with his team for the best paper of the year in MORS. The paper demonstrated a flaw in Missile Defense and designed a remedy. Dr. Foote was asked to contribute to four handbooks: Statistics, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, and Military Industrial Engineering AND to an introduction to Systems Engineering based on award winning papers. As a teacher he was mentor, teacher and advisor to a future Governor of the state of Oklahoma (David Walters), and to MAJ Gen Neil Beer who was second research director of SDI and first deputy of the Space command.
To support his Christian faith, Dr. Foote was a Sunday School teacher for over 30 years, was chairman of the board of McFarlin UMCH (a church of 5000 members) and Chairman of the board of Wesley Foundation on the OU campus for over 8 years. During his tenure the Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist campus ministry, grew from 100 participants to over 400. The number of students going into full time Christian ministry tripled. He was coordinator of Higher Ground at West Point and mentor to the Navigators sponsor. He volunteered for Dale House, a faith-based parole residential organization for youth 16-18 years old. He is the author of BEYOND SCIENCE, a defense of the Christian faith based on Quantum Mechanics, advanced Mathematical theorems (incompleteness theorem), and information theory.
