New Mexico State University

Roland E. Thomas

Roland Thomas was educated in Las Cruces, New Mexico, graduating from New Mexico State University in 1952. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force, where he served for over 26 years, eventually retiring with the rank of Brigadier General. He furthered his education by earning a Master's of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a Doctorate Degree from the University of Illinois.
In 1959, Thomas was competitively selected to join the faculty of the newly established U.S. Air Force Academy. His exemplary service at the Academy led to a Presidential appointment in 1964 as the Academy's fourteenth permanent professor. In 1966, he was appointed as the head of the Electrical Engineering department, a position he held until his military retirement in 1979.
Following his distinguished military career, Thomas transitioned to the defense industry and founded an independent consulting firm in 1985. His passion for engineering education continued as he served on numerous accrediting committees for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Thomas retired from private practice in 2002 but left a legacy through his popular textbook, The Analysis and Design of Linear Circuits, which is now in its 10th edition and continues to be updated and published by his coauthors.