John B. MacChesney
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
MacChesney, along with colleague Paul O'Connor, developed a simple vapor deposition process, known as Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition, to produce millions of kilometers of optical fibers, a process that is not only noteworthy but remains highly competitive.

This process was key in transforming optical fibers from scientific curiosities into the highly reliable, low loss medium necessary for high-speed, high-bandwidth fiber optic communications systems. MacChesney's further inventions have enhanced the functionality and reduced the cost of today's fiber optic cables, which are installed worldwide.

MacChesney, who has lived and worked in New Jersey the past 35 years, holds 65 patents in a diverse set of areas that impact all aspects of optical fibers. He has been a critical part of the optical-fiber based telecommunications revolution and has been remarkably successful at identifying interesting scientific areas and turning them into areas of tremendous commercial importance.