GRAY, ME, October 18, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Mark D. Grover, Ph.D., with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Grover celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
With four decades of industry experience to his credit, Dr. Grover has been a senior software engineer for Garmin International since 2016. Prior to this appointment, he held the positions of senior software engineer for DeLorme Mapping Company from 1995 to 2016, principal software engineer for Oberon Software, Inc., from 1990 to 1994, and senior computer scientist for Advanced Decision Systems from 1985 to 1989. Previously, he was on the technical staff for TRW, Inc., from 1981 to 1985. Dr. Grover began his career as an instructor with Northwestern University from 1978 to 1981 while completing his Ph.D.
Before embarking on his professional path, Dr. Grover pursued an education in his field from an early age. He began writing computer programs as a teenager nearly fifty years ago at Northeast High School, St. Petersburg, Florida. Access to computers was a rare opportunity in 1970. Grover was an active student, fifth in his class of several hundred, member of the National Honor Society, recipient of the Rensselaer Math and Science Medal, President of the Science and Engineering Club, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, a branch of student government. For summer jobs, he was a laboratory assistant for a program training teachers of secondary school engineering classes.
Grover received a National Merit Scholarship to attend the University of Florida. He majored in Computer and Information Sciences, earning a Bachelor of Arts with High Honors in 1976 including a senior project in Artificial Intelligence. In his spare time, Grover was treasurer of his dormitory, and also founded a UF campus club that endeavored to revive the original science fiction television show of "Star Trek". Grover completed his Bachelor's degree in eight quarters rather than the typical twelve, and was given an early award of membership in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society in his junior year.
Grover received a Fellowship to attend his first year at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. This was followed by a teaching assistantship, and then a three-year appointment as a tenure-track Instructor in Computer Science. Grover's interest in Artificial Intelligence continued through cross-disciplinary work in Computer Science and Linguistics, as well as additional studies of Russian and Philosophy.
Grover earned a Master of Science degree from Northwestern University in 1978, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in 1982 at the age of twenty-six.
During the twentieth century, Grover was an invited presenter to conferences in his field, and he served as the program chairman for the National Symbolics User Group Conference in 1986. His work concentrated on military-related research in areas associated with Artificial Intelligence. In particular, he developed novel object-oriented simulations, a machine learning program, and a theorem-proving program. In 1990, Grover moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to join a commercial startup company doing innovative object-oriented database product development. Among other contributions, his interest in linguistics was put to good use writing user interfaces that adopted to the language of the user, an uncommon feature in the early 1990s.
In 1995, Dr. Grover returned to his home state of Maine, and since then has been with DeLorme Mapping (recently purchased by Garmin International). His contributions have been in the areas of data compression, cartography, satellite communication, web services, relational databases, and internationalization. Grover is happiest when products he helped create can make customers smile. A recent example is the Garmin inReach communicator, which allows travelers and adventurers who are out of cell phone range to be able to exchange messages with their loved ones or to summon help in an emergency.
While continuing as a software developer, he has also acted as project leader, technical leader, translation coordinator, and Scrum Master. The latter role allows Grover to exercise his interest in efficient and egalitarian agile software development techniques, presenting his experience and approaches to a regional audience. Grover also participated on the Computer Science Department Advisory Board at the University of Southern Maine.
In public life, while still employed full-time, Grover has served as an elected official. He served on the Town Council of Gray, Maine for three years (2008-2011), and was elected as a Cumberland County Commissioner for two years (2013-2014).
Dr. Grover has found other opportunities to contribute to local community life. He was certified as an emergency medical technician and CPR instructor. He volunteered on the local Fire-Rescue in Gray, Maine, responding actively for twelve years, receiving the local EMT of the Year award in 2007. During this period, Dr. Grover became a stroke survivor, recovering completely enough to continue all of his previous activities, while gaining a new perspective as a patient.
At times Grover served as a trustee of the First Congregational Church of Gray, as executive director of Gray Region Citizen Corps, as a member of the municipal Comprehensive Plan Committee, as a trustee of the Gray Public Library, and as Secretary of his local road association.
For many years, Grover has contributed an occasional column titled "The Center Road" in an area newspaper, which offers his observations of Maine life, and the thoughts of a rational, centrist, independent thinker.
Grover is proud of his family heritage. A certified member of the Sons of the American Revolution, his great-great-great-great-great grandfather was killed by the British during the Penobscot Expedition. Just as remarkably, the Mayflower Society has certified Grover's ancestry to three different Pilgrims who arrived on the original Mayflower voyage.
Most recently, Dr. Grover has become a student helicopter pilot, has already been approved for solo flight, and as of this writing is working to complete his instruction.
Grover is single and never married. He lives in a quiet country home and enjoys old books, film, current events, world travel, and fine dining.
Dr. Grover was selected for inclusion in many editions of Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Science and Engineering, Who's Who in the East, Who's Who in the Media and Communication and Who's Who in the World.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Dr. Grover has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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