Electrical Engineering Hall of Fame: Robert A. Millikan

In 1911, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) selected Robert Andrews Millikan as the recipient of the Edison Medal. He was cited "for his experimental work in electrical science". He was the first recipient to be honored primarily for his scientific contributions rather than engineering or invention. The selection committee may have been influenced by his leading role in the mobilization of science and engineering to carry out military research during World War 1. The award was quite timely, since the following year he received the Nobel Prize in Physics, becoming the first Edison Medalist to win this prestigious recognition.