As Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute celebrates its Bicentennial, we reflect on the many great minds, pioneers, entrepreneurs, and game-changers who are Rensselaer alumni. In 1995, the Rensselaer Alumni Association, with the full endorsement of the Institute Board of Trustees, created the Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame to preserve and celebrate the exceptional heritage of alumni accomplishments throughout the years. Honorees are chosen by a selection committee based on reputation, professional achievements, service and career contributions, and uniqueness. Etched glass windows located centrally on the Rensselaer campus honor their accomplishments. 

This year, we honored four distinguished alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their chosen fields. It is with great pride that we recognize Frederick J. Kahn, Eddie Ade Knowles, Adam Oates, and Ronald J. Zlatoper. Kahn is an LCD technology pioneer and adviser to emerging businesses. Knowles was a Rensselaer educator, dean, and student programs leader, as well as a musician and civil rights advocate. Oates was a member of the Rensselaer’s 1985 National Championship hockey team and an NHL Star. Zlatoper was a decorated Navy admiral and pilot, as well as a Rensselaer Trustee.

Kahn earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and physics from Rensselaer in 1962 before earning a Ph.D. in applied physics-solid state from Harvard. At Bell Labs, Kahn launched an LCD research program, focusing on liquid crystal molecular malignment and electro-optical effects. He invented some of the LCD innovations that are today widely used in flat-panel and projection TV. Kahn then moved on to Hewlett Packard, where he led research and development efforts that produced displays for handheld calculators, portable computers, and computer-aided designs. Previously, there were no mechanisms to quickly display digital information on small and portable devices. In 1984, Kahn founded his own company, Greyhawk Systems Inc., where he helped lead advancements on ultra-high-definition displays, electronic component manufacturing, and short-order color printing. During his last years at Greyhawk, he founded Kahn International Inc., which continues today as a high-level business development adviser to companies large and small.

Before launching his over-40-year career at Rensselaer, Knowles held education positions at Bronx Community College and the Eugenia Maria de Hostos Community College. Knowles became assistant dean of students and coordinator of minority student programs and a foreign student adviser at Rensselaer in 1977. He founded the Office of Minority Student Affairs (OMSA) and later became Rensselaer’s first dean of minority student affairs. Knowles was appointed vice president for student life in 2001. During his tenure, Knowles oversaw the creation of OMSA’s Learning Center, the Bridge and PREFACE summer programs for supporting underrepresented students to pursue STEM careers, as well as the Intervention Team, which was a multidisciplinary group of faculty and staff responsible for student retention. A particular focus for Knowles were programs for entering students, such as the Office of First-Year Experience and the award-winning Navigating Rensselaer and Beyond program for freshmen. Knowles was also a musician, specializing in rhythm and percussion. He performed and recorded with a variety of groups, including Dinizulu and His African Dancers, Drummers and Singers; Kim and Reggie Harris; and Gil Scott-Heron and the Midnight Band. He was the co-founder and artistic managing director of the Griot Dance Company and The New African Music Collective.

Oates played hockey for the RPI Engineers from 1982-1985 and helped lead them to the school’s second national championship in 1985. Oates led the team in assists every year, starting his collegiate career by scoring 42 points (goals plus assists) in 22 games as a freshman. and setting school records with 83 overall points and 57 assists as a sophomore. During the 84-85 championship year he recorded 60 assists and 91 overall points. He was named an NCAA All-American and was voted onto the ECAC first All-Star team. That same season, he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, the NCAA’s top hockey player award. He was later inducted into RPI’s Athletic Hall of Fame and the hockey team’s Ring of Honor.

Unselected in the NHL draft, he signed his first pro contract with the Detroit Red Wings in 1985, but he continued to take classes at Rensselaer, earning a bachelor’s degree in management in 1991. He spent some time in the minor leagues during his first season and became a full-time player for Detroit in 1986. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues in 1989. In 1992, he was traded to the Boston Bruins, where he had his most successful season. He led the NHL with 97 assists in 1992-1993 and finished third in scoring with 142 points. Boston traded him to the Washington Capitals in 1997, where he scored the 1,000th point of his career and was the 15th fastest player to do so. He played with the Capitals during the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals, which they lost to Detroit. Washington traded Oates to Philadelphia in 2002. A year later he signed a contract with Anaheim and finished his playing career with the Edmonton Oilers. He retired in 2004, after amassing the highest points and assists total for any undrafted player at that time: 1,337 games played and 1,420 points.

Oates then moved into assistant coaching assignments with the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils. On the day he was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 2012, he was named head coach of the Washington Capitals. His final coaching assignment was a co-coach position with the New Jersey Devils, which ended in 2015. 

Zlatoper received a Naval Reserve Officer Training Scholarship to Rensselaer, earning his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1963. He went on to earn a master’s degree in management from MIT, and another master’s in administration from George Washington University in 1970. He also graduated from the Naval War College. Zlatoper underwent flight training in Pensacola, Florida. He earned his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold and was chosen to fly the new A-6 Intruder all-weather attack aircraft. He flew 150 aircraft carrier-based missions over North Vietnam during combat tours in 1966 and 1967. He also flew combat missions during Desert Storm. Overall, he accumulated over 4,000 flight hours and more than 1,000 aircraft carrier landings. Appointed Chief of Naval Personnel from 1991-1994, Zlatoper led the Navy through revolutionary changes, including groundbreaking efforts within naval aviation and the integration of women onto combat ships and aircraft. During his final Navy assignment as Commander in Chief of U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, he was responsible for the world's largest naval command, encompassing 102 million square miles and more than 190 ships and submarines, 1,600 aircraft, and 200,000 Sailors and Marines. He received a number of medals and awards, ranging from the Distinguished Flying Cross to recognition from Japanese and Korean military leaders.

Following his retirement from the Navy in 1996, Zlatoper served as the CEO of Sanchez Computer Associates. He was an advocate for economic development in Hawaii after settling there, serving on the boards of several technological startup companies and was a leading advocate for developing dual use (military and civilian) technologies on the islands. He served on the Board of the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Military Affairs Council, and the University of Hawaii College of Engineering. Zlatoper served as a member of the Rensselaer Board of Trustees and was appointed to emeritus status when he completed his service.