Owen Osborne

Owen Osborne

Photographs

InterviewTranscript (PDF)
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Transcript
Transcript
Transcript

Owen D. Osborne began his career as an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Oregon State University in 1971. While his primary responsibility was instruction for both graduates and undergraduates, Osborne became involved in a number of research programs. During this time, Osborne began working for Office of Energy Research and Development to combat the oil crisis of the mid-1970s. Osborne’s work with the federal and state legislatures helped start the Energy Extension program in Oregon.

In 1977, Osborne started working on the newly established Energy Extension program part-time as an Information Coordinator, and was full-time by 1978. He also worked on a variety of other projects throughout the state with a number of agencies during this period, including the Eugene Water and Electric Board.

Osborne left Oregon State University in 1982 to take a job as the Director of the Engineering Extension Service at Iowa State University, which was a unique branch of the Extension Service. He returned to Oregon State University in 1990 to take the job of Associate Director of Programs. Osborne began a phased-retirement in 1998, which he completed shortly thereafter with an emeritus appointment. Throughout his career, Osborne was actively involved in the American Society for Engineering Education.

Osborne has authored several publications, including Simulating Oregon’s Future Electrical Energy Demand (1977), Oregon Energy Extension Service State Plan (1980), and Improving Fireplace Efficiency (1988).

Owen Osborne was born in Versailles, Missouri in 1943. He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri (1966), an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University (1967), and a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in 1971. He currently lives with his wife, Kathryn, at Black Butte Ranch, Oregon.