William F. Krupke establishes a distinguished professorship of optics as part of the Wyant Challenge

This optics leader and entrepreneur’s generosity is helping to shape scientific progress and advance the field of optics.

Krupke’s career has benefited from the interplay between personal drive, professional opportunities, and broader technological trends. He says that seizing opportunities, fostering collaborations, and maintaining a forward-looking perspective in both scientific research and business ventures are keys to success.

Bill Krupke, a physicist, laser scientist, technology entrepreneur, and a former program director at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), has established the William F. Krupke Distinguished Professorship in Optics at the University of Rochester. Krupke’s generous $800,000 gift will be matched with $1.2 million from the Wyant Challenge, established in 2022 by the late trustee emeritus James C. Wyant ’69 (PhD) and his wife, Tammy, to create 10 endowed professorships at the Institute of Optics.

Krupke’s gift marks the third distinguished professorship and fourth gift inspired by the Wyant’s generous challenge. In 2022, Optica, a leading society in optics and photonics, established the first distinguished professorship in recognition of Nobel Prize recipient Donna Strickland ’89 (PhD). In 2023, Tina E. Kidger and Emery L. Moore, long-time optics innovators and leaders in the optics field, created the second one, which bears the couple’s name. That same year, Optimax, an optics and technology manufacturing company, became the third to join the Wyant Challenge.

“Jim Wyant was a contemporary of mine and a true pioneer in the field of optics,” says Krupke. “By establishing this challenge, Jim and Tammy made it possible for people like me to have an enduring role in the future of optics. The Institute of Optics is a leader in the field and the ideal beneficiary of their forward-thinking philanthropy.”

Dean of the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences Wendi Heinzelman says Krupke’s generous gift further strengthens the Institute of Optics at Rochester and will help advance innovations that are crucial to sectors such as energy, healthcare, and manufacturing, with research progress in laser science, photonics, and quantum optics. “With every professorship in the Wyant Challenge, we shape the future of the field as a whole and create a lasting legacy—all of which will propel optics education and research for years to come,” she says.

Right place, right time

Krupke has dedicated his life to science and technology. Growing up, he could always be found tinkering in the garage, taking apart radios and music amplifiers, and putting them back together. He took his curiosity to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his master’s and PhD from the University of California at Los Angeles, also in physics. He began his career at Hughes Aircraft, witnessing Theodore Maiman lead the company’s demonstration and development of the world’s first laser.

“That was a pivotal time for me,” says Krupke, who was awarded the prestigious Maiman Laser Award from SPIE—the international society for optics and photonics—in 2022. “If the 20th century was the century of the electron, then the 21st century is the century of the photon. We are at a similar turning point, and I am thrilled I can be a part of it. Photons, and laser science and technology, have vast applications in nearly every field, from communications to climate change and beyond. I’m excited to know that this gift will grow the reach of this important, fast-moving work and help amplify the vital role of the institute.”

Laser-focused career

Krupke’s career took him to Honeywell Corporation, Aerospace Corporation, back to Hughes, and then to LLNL, where he was recruited to work on high-peak-power lasers. During his 27 years at LLNL, he cofounded its laser program and became its chief scientist, deputy division and program leader.

After LLNL, Krupke started consulting for a number of venture capital-backed startups, for established laser companies such as Uniphase, and served on the board of the leading fiber laser company IPG Photonics. A windfall related to a patent judgment prompted him to set up a Donor Advised Fund. This type of fund provides immediate tax benefits while allowing strategic charitable giving over time, combining philanthropic intent with financial efficiency.

Lessons learned

Throughout his career, Krupke has learned the importance of asking questions, working collaboratively, taking a multidisciplinary approach, and thinking critically about research directions. He values the crucial role of basic science in building the foundation for applied research, and he thrives on making real-world impact. According to Krupke, that impact fosters innovation and addresses complex issues in new ways, and it expands through professional connections and networks.

Tom Brown, director of the Institute of Optics and the Mercer Brugler Distinguished Teaching Professor, echoes this. “Bill’s many years of contributions to laser science, laser technology, and the laser industry have already had an enormous impact on our students, our alumni, and the success of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. His leadership underscores a deep commitment to the field and future of optics that reflects well on both the legacy and the future of the institute. Because of people like Bill, and the leadership of Jim and Tammy Wyant, our programs will grow, and we will continue to educate future leaders and innovators who will address and solve some of the biggest scientific and technological challenges facing our world.”

At 87 years young, Krupke continues to consult and develop concepts for laser solutions that address emerging commercial and industrial laser-based applications. He stays active in his field and in life and even walks five miles a day. “I flunked retirement,” he says.