Drawing upon nearly four decades of expertise in systems analysis and technology, James R. Ziegler most recently served as a senior systems analyst and computer consultant for the National Cash Register Co. in San Diego, California, until his retirement in 1980. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State College (now known as Pennsylvania State University) in 1943, he served Norden Corp. as a research of the UHF Wave Guide for one year. During this time, he continued his studies at Penn State, receiving a master’s degree in mathematics in 1948 while concurrently serving the university as an instructor in mathematics from 1946 to 1948.
After receiving his degrees, Mr. Ziegler traveled to California, where he served the University of California Los Angeles as an instructor in mathematics from 1948 to 1954. Likewise, he was involved as a research associate statistician for the Teachers Characteristics Study for the American Council on Education between 1951 and 1954, whereupon he suggested the use of new computers from UC Los Angeles to change the course of the research project. Originally a project that was leveraging hands-on paperwork, the new technology allowed the study to escalate from several hundred to several thousand teachers.
Subsequently, Mr. Ziegler served NCR in Hawthorne, California, as manager of programming services and electronic computers from 1954 to 1968, Southern Federal Savings & Loan Association as director from 1968 to 1969, and Coast Federal Savings & Loan Association as advisor director from 1969 to 1974. Congruent to this role, he was the president of Turn-Key Computer Applications between 1968 and 1975. For the final five years of his career, he excelled as a senior systems analyst and consultant analyst for the National Cash Register Co. Post-retirement, Mr. Ziegler was a consultant for the Yemen Arab Republic National Water and Sewerage Authority from 1980 to 1987.
Demonstrating versatility in his field, Mr. Ziegler has contributed myriad articles to professional journals, and authored “Time Sharing Data Processing Systems” through Prentice Hall in 1967. Additionally, he served with the United States Marine Corps Reserve between 1944 and 1946, where he saw combat in Okinawa, Japan, and spent several months in China before his honorable discharge. The recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who, he is a former member of the Masons.
