Ralph Alewine

Ralph Alewine 

B.S. Physics, 1970, Mississippi State University 

Ph.D. Geophysics, 1974, California Institute of Technology 

College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Executive Advisory Board 

“My personal interest in the sciences was cultivated by an early experience with Mississippi State University,” said Ralph Alewine, a 1970 MSU graduate and current supporter of the university. 

“As a high school student in Jackson in 1963, I was selected to attend a summer program at MSU. This program was organized by Professor Clyde Q. Sheely of the chemistry department and supported by the National Science Foundation to introduce gifted high school students to studies and careers in science and engineering,” said Alewine. 

The summer program, called the SCIENEER Program, also oriented the group to life on the MSU campus. Many of the graduates of the SCIENEER program subsequently enrolled in science and engineering majors at MSU.  

“I thought the concentrated program was outstanding and the learning experience, which included small research projects in a number of academic departments at MSU, sparked my interest in the sciences. I received an invaluable preview of what I could look forward to as a student at MSU,” Alewine said.  

When asked what experiences at MSU had the largest impact on him, Alewine said, “The physics and math curriculum provided a solid foundation for my acceptance to graduate school. Starting in my third year, I was given the opportunity by the physics department to teach the freshman physics laboratory course. In addition to the experience, this provided a career-long skill in technical writing.”

“As a freshman, I joined the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and enjoyed the social aspects of college, including meeting my future wife, clearly the largest impact on my life. Completing AFROTC and officer commissioning enabled me to attend graduate school, which would not have been possible otherwise. Also, the physics department hosted Shell Oil Company for summer jobs for upper-level physics students for real-world training and experience in geophysics. Three summers of work with Shell cemented my interest in geophysics and computational physics.”

Alewine said two specific professors and his foreign language classes played important roles in his career path. “Professor E. Irl Howell provided encouragement throughout my student tenure. Professor Gordon Jones taught upper-level courses and started each semester saying, somewhat humorously, ‘Learning is a painful experience and we will learn a lot from this class.’ His students graduated well-grounded in the fundamentals of physics,” said Alewine. “Also, little did I appreciate at the time, the foreign languages courses, German and French, would be so useful in my work in Geneva, Switzerland, and Vienna, Austria.” 

Upon his graduation from MSU, Alewine attended graduate school at Brown University, where he completed a master’s degree in geophysics. During his time at Brown, he worked as a research assistant for the U.S. Department of Defense research grants. He then applied and was accepted into the Ph.D. program at the California Institute of Technology where he earned his Ph.D. in geophysics and applied math. 

Upon his graduation from MSU, Alewine attended graduate school at Brown University, where he completed a master’s degree in geophysics. During his time at Brown, he worked as a research assistant for the U.S. Department of Defense research grants. He then applied and was accepted into the Ph.D. program at the California Institute of Technology where he earned his Ph.D. in geophysics and applied math. 

After completing his education, Alewine served on active duty in the military, fulfilling his MSU ROTC obligation. His military service marked the beginning of his career path where he worked as an office director with the Defense Advanced Research Agency. He later was appointed to the Office of the Secretary of Defense as deputy assistant secretary responsible for the U.S. Department of Defense’s nuclear treaty programs. 

After his retirement, Alewine served on the board of directors of the ENSCO Corporation; the advisory board for the Department of Engineering at George Washington University; consultant to the European Nuclear Research C Centre in Italy; and consultant to the International Test Ban Organization in Vienna, Austria. 

Alewine moved to Vero Beach, Florida, after his retirement and has lived there since. He enjoys golfing, working with his community association, and being a grandparent. He also enjoys researching family genealogy. 

When asked what advice he would give to today’s MSU students Alewine said, “Your membership in the MSU College of Arts and Sciences has given you an unprecedented opportunity to prepare for a successful and rewarding future, perhaps in an area you do not yet realize. Take full advantage of this opportunity.”