Dr. Richard S. Wolff has 36 years of university and industry experience in teaching and research in a wide range of topics in telecommunications and underlying technologies. He is currently the Gilhousen Telecommunications Chair and professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Montana State University at Bozeman, appointed to this position in January 2003. His experience in telecommunications industry research, from 1977 to 2003, was at Telcordia, Bellcore and Bell Laboratories, where his work spanned a wide range of technical and policy-related aspects of communications network design and evolution. Prior to joining Montana State University, he was Vice President for Advanced Network Systems Research. Telcordia Technologies (formerly Bellcore), where he directed a diverse program that included systems level research in wireless, wireline and optical networks for terrestrial and earth-space applications. He is an expert in emerging wireless network technologies and systems for telecommunications applications.  Additionally, he has extensive experience working with US government research and development agencies including DARPA, AFRL, CECOM, and NIST, and in managing research projects. At Montana State he has established a telecommunications research program with emphasis on novel approaches to meeting the communications challenges of rural and sparse areas.

Recent Appointments

• Present: Gilhousen Telecommunications Chair, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. Established wireless networks research program, with emphasis on ad-hoc, mesh and multi-hop networks, smart antennas and emerging high-speed radio technologies.
• December, 1998 - January, 2003: Vice President, Advanced Network Systems Research, Telcordia Technologies/Bellcore. Managed and conducted research in IP-based third generation wireless systems, telematics and ad-hoc networks.
• September, 1994-January, 1998: Executive Director, Government Research Program, Bellcore. Initiated and directed research in wireless interoperability, point-to-multipoint wireless networks.
• January, 1991-September, 1994: Director, Personal Communications Applications Research, Bellcore. Directed and conducted research in wireless voice and data applications.

Selected Publications (over 100 publications, total)

• Wenhao Lin, Richard S. Wolff, Brendan Mumey, “A Markov-based Reservation Algorithm for Wavelength Assignment in All-optical Networks”, IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, July, 2007.
• Dwayne Folden, Todd Howard, Trent Jackson, Eric Julian, Levi Junkert, David Lopez, Michael Panique, Rianon Tiensvold, Dr. Michael J. Oudshoorn, Richard S. Wolff, “An Aircraft Cabin Wireless System for Games and Video Entertainment”, ACM Transactions on Computers in Entertainment, Vol 5, April 2007.
• Mingliu Zhang and Richard S. Wolff, “Geographic Information Based Mobility Model for Mobile Ad-hoc Routing in Sparse and Rural Areas”, Globecom Autonet Workshop, December, 2006.
• Shen Wan, Richard S. Wolff, “Terrain-aware Ad-hoc Scheduling for Sparse Mobile Networks”, OPNETWORK 2006, Washington DC, August 2006.
• R. S. Wolff and Gaurav Dawra, “A Terrain-based Routing Protocol for Sparse Ad-hoc Intermittent Networking (TRAIN)”, IASTED International Conference on Wireless and Optical Communication Systems and Networks, WOC 2006.
• Mingliu Zhang and Richard S. Wolff, “Ad-hoc Routing for Sparse Mobile Networks: A Traveler Information System for Rural Areas”, OPNETWORK 2005, Washington DC, August 2005.
• Ahmed Al-Kaisy, Richard S. Wolff, Kyle Lyson, Doug Rust, “Development of Wireless Traffic Monitoring System for ITS Instruction and Research”, Institute of Transportation Engineers), District 6 Annual Meeting, Kalispell, MT 10-13 July 2005.
• R. S. Wolff, et. al., “Ad-hoc Networking in Rugged and Remote Areas: Intermittently Connected Networking”, Wireless 2005, Calgary, Alberta CA, July 2005.
• M. Zhang and R. S. Wolff, “Using Multi-hop for Broadband Fixed Wireless Access in Rural Areas”, Wireless 2004, Calgary, CA, July 12-14 2004.
• M. Zhang and R. S. Wolff, “Crossing the Digital Divide: Cost-Effective Broadband Wireless Access for Rural and Remote Areas”, IEEE Communications Magazine, February 2004.
• M. Zhang and R.S. Wolff, “Using Wi-Fi for Cost-Effective Broadband Wireless Access in Rural and Remote Areas”, WCNC2004, Atlanta GA, March 2004.

Patents

• Two patents awarded
• Two patents pending

Grants and Other appointments 

• Principal Investigator, two current National Science Foundation grants
• Co-Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation, Department of Homeland Security, CALTRANS grants
• Principal Investigator, Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology grant
• Co-Principal Investigator, Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology, US Navy grants
• Board of Directors, Advanced Technology Inc., Bozeman MT
• Board of Directors, Intermountain Opera Association