Dr. Thomas Mensah: Black History Month and Recognizing Notable Black Immigrants and Refugees

As Black History Month comes to a close, we continue to recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of influential black immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape the vibrant tapestry of America. Today, we spotlight Ghanaian American inventor and engineer, Dr. Thomas Mensah.

Born in Ghana in 1950, Thomas Mensah was known as a bright and inquisitive child who excelled in science and math from an early age. He completed his undergraduate studies at Adisadel College, earning a scholarship to the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, where he pursued a degree in chemical engineering and graduated with honors in 1974. Following graduate school, Mensah received a fellowship from the French government to study at Montpellier’s University of Science and Technology. There, he participated in a program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning a certificate in Modeling and Simulation of Chemical Processes. Four years later, Mensah received his PhD.

In 1979, Thomas immigrated to the United States to take a job as a research engineer with Air Products and Chemicals in Pennsylvania. Shortly after, he found employment at Corning Glass Works as a fiber-optics research engineer.

A prolific inventor, Mensah is best known as one of the four creators of modern laser-based fiber optics technology in the U.S.  His innovations were paramount in replacing Copper Media – creating greater bandwidth for faster internet and quicker transmission of media such as pictures, emails, and data. In one of his seven patents, he designed a high-speed coating manufacturing system to eliminate bubbles and defects within optical fibers. The technology is now used in underwater cables that connect continents and countries’ internet.

Mensah continued his work at AT&T Bell Laboratories and later founded the Georgia Aerospace Corporation, which focused on manufacturing for both the Defense and Aerospace spaces. He founded the emerging technologies area of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and was the first black Chairman of the Materials and Engineering Sciences Division.

Mensah served as a prominent member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and was the first black Chairman of the Materials and Engineering Sciences Division. In later years, he was commissioned to work for national institutions such as NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Dr. Thomas Mensah passed in March of 2024, at the age of 74.