JOHN B. SLAUGHTER (1934– ), a computer scientist, is president of Occidental College in Los Angeles, California. He has served as chancellor of the University of Maryland and as director of the National Science Foundation. Dr. Slaughter is best known for his work on the development of computer algorithms for system optimization and discrete signal processing, with emphasis on application to ocean and environmental system problems. He is the recipient of 21 honorary degrees, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association of Science, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He was the first person to be honored as the Black Engineer of the Year. He was elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering in 1982.