Unibw M honors George Leitmann: A bridge builder of science

Unibw M honors George Leitmann: A bridge builder of science

München, Deutschland - George Leitmann, a remarkable Austrian-American engineer and mathematician, died on May 19, 2025, just five days before his 100th birthday. Born on May 24, 1925 in Vienna, he was known for his extensive teaching at the University of California in Berkeley, which extended for almost 60 years. During this time he acquired international recognition for his contributions in areas such as optimal control, operations research and game theory. According to Unibw M Leitmann decisive contributions to optimize airplane constructions and for the ballistics of rockets.

Leitmann's career is remarkable. In 1938 he fled with his mother from Austria to the USA after his father was murdered during the Second World War. In 1944 he joined the US military and worked as an interrogation officer in the Nuremberg processes. After his military service, he studied physics at Columbia University, where he acquired a BA and a MS in 1949 and 1950, followed by a doctorate at UC Berkeley in 1956.

scientific heritage and appreciation

George Leitmann leaves an impressive scientific heritage. He published 15 books and more than 300 technical articles and was active in various academic bodies. Among other things, he was a co -founder of the American Alexander von Humboldt Association and received numerous awards, including honorary membership in the US National Academy of Engineering and the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2013, such as Wikipedia reported.

In 2005, the University of the Bundeswehr Munich initiated George Leitmann Lecture on his 80th birthday. This series of lectures invites scientists, the research activities of which are in Leitmann's specialist areas in order to honor his merits. The next lecture is given by Jan Wörner, the former head of the European space agency ESA. The appointment will be announced.

a celebration of life

On May 24, 2025, a posthumous celebration in Berkeley took place in honor of George Leitmann's 100th birthday. Prof. Stefan Pickl delivered a greeting from the President of the Unibw M, Prof. Eva-Maria Kern, and described Leitmann as "bridge builder", which reflects his ability to promote international connections and interdisciplinary cooperation. At a time when his life and work is recognized, it becomes clear that his contributions not only shaped the engineering science, but also the understanding of complex systems, such as human immune response.

With his impressive life story and his commitment to science, George Leitmann remains a role model for future generations of scientists and engineers worldwide.