Dr. Frederick J. Leonberger will receive the 2014 Connecticut Medal of Technology at the 39th Annual Meeting & Dinner of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) on Thursday, June 5, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell.

Leonberger has developed a number of important optical devices, including devices used for transmitting high speed data across long-haul fiber optic networks.

He began his career at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where Leonberger developed a breakthrough single chip analog-to-digital converter device. He joined United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) in 1984 as manager of Photonics and Applied Physics. The major technologies developed in UTRC groups led to the creation of several Connecticut companies and business units including:  United Technologies Photonics (UTP) in Bloomfield; CiDRA, in Wallingford; and DEOS, now part of Coherent, in Bloomfield. The estimated revenue of these businesses over the past 15 years is estimated to exceed $1 billion. 

“The State of Connecticut is proud to award the Connecticut Medal of Technology to Fred Leonberger who has made seminal contributions through his achievements in optical communications,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “Dr. Leonberger’s dedication throughout his 30-year career in Connecticut has fostered prosperity and technical primacy in our great state.”

Leonberger retired in 2003 and founded EOvation Technologies (now EOvation Advisors), which advises photonics and laser companies. He also serves on the Board of Directors of four private venture-funded photonics companies.

The Connecticut Medal of Technology is the state’s highest honor for technological achievement in fields crucial to Connecticut’s economic competitiveness.  Modeled after the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, this award is made by the State of Connecticut, with the assistance of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, in alternate years with the Connecticut Medal of Science. 

Visit http://www.ctcase.org/medals.html to see a list of past winners.

Lon Seidman is the host and producer of “Lon.TV,” a consumer technology video show that is on a number of platforms including YouTube and Amazon. He creates in-depth, consumer-friendly product reviews and commentary. His YouTube channel has over 300,000 subscribers and more than 100 million views.

In addition to being a full-time content creator, Lon is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Hartford (his alma mater) where he teaches a course in entrepreneurial content creation.

Prior to becoming a full-time creator, Lon was a partner at The Safety Zone, his family’s business that manufactures gloves and safety equipment. The company has locations around the globe and employs over 200 people worldwide. The Safety Zone was acquired by the Genuine Parts Corporation in 2016.

Lon is also active in public service, serving as the Chairman of the Essex Board of Education, a member of the Region 4 Board of Education, and as the Secretary / Treasurer of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. He was endorsed by both Democrats and Republicans for his re-election in 2021.

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