From Tubes and Transistors to Digital Computing

Joe Muldoon '61 COE has had a long and impactful career in engineering. Working in the aerospace industry for more than 30 years, Joe was a key player in projects prominent in American history, from the Chinook helicopter and the Minuteman Missile to developing computer systems for solar energy and leading the implementation of the personal computer in the workplace.

"I began my career with tubes and transistors and ended with complex, global computer networks," reflects Joe. For him, it all began at Villanova, where he "gained the fundamental skills that I used every day in my career."

Growing up in Gibbstown, New Jersey, and attending Paulsboro public schools, Joe had not imagined a career in engineering for himself. He was a good student, but a college education was not a foregone conclusion. Joe credits his early success to his parish priest who saw his intellect and promise, helped him navigate the college application process and arranged for him to meet with a visiting priest from Villanova. Villanova was the only school to which Joe applied and he was excited yet apprehensive about his acceptance as he had never visited the campus.

Once enrolled in Villanova's College of Engineering, Joe faced many of the struggles that freshmen experience, but quickly found support from the upperclassmen in his program. He learned fundamental problem-solving skills that he used every single day of his career. Joe also credits the Augustinian values instilled in him at Villanova as the catalyst for his success.

"These values made me who I am today. As important as it is to be well-educated, it's equally as important to have a moral background—it's the foundation for life," says Joe.

In his senior year, Joe enrolled in what would be one of the most influential courses during his time at Villanova: Urban Geography. In the course, students learned about the statistical characteristics and operational aspects of cities. These lessons were particularly helpful when Joe worked on a groundbreaking project in the 1970s for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF was interested in seeing how technology and policy could be developed to make cities more efficient. Thanks to his coursework, he was able to make a significant contribution to the project.

After graduation, Joe began working with The Boeing Company at the Philadelphia International Airport, where he was an instrumentation engineer for Chinook helicopters. He was then sent to Seattle to test equipment for the Minuteman Missiles, the first solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, and then spent a short stint with General Dynamics working on the Atlas-Centaur missile in San Diego. Ultimately, Joe found his way back to Boeing where he spent the better part of 30 years between Philadelphia and Seattle as a systems engineer. Joe retired in 1995. Since then, he has adopted many hobbies, including painting, photography and jewelry making.

The support and skills that Villanova provided inspired him to make a generous charitable estate gift to the College of Engineering. After talking with the Office of Gift and Estate Planning, Joe thought that naming Villanova University as a beneficiary on an individual retirement account (IRA) was the best way to meet his philanthropic goals. Joe decided to create the Joseph T. '61 and Verna M. Muldoon Jr. Endowed Scholarship to ensure the future success of academically talented undergraduates in the College of Engineering. The scholarship is for students with demonstrated financial need and a preference for individuals from counties in Southern New Jersey.

"My education was extremely important to me and positioned me for a lifetime of success and impact. It's critical for incoming students who demonstrate financial need to have the resources to complete their education."

Like Joe, you can make a lasting impact at Villanova University. Contact Tim McKinley at 215-240-0812 or timothy.mckinley@villanova.edu to learn more.