The Concorde TSP Solver stands as a testament to the computational methods developed by William J. Cook for solving the traveling salesman problem. Born in New Jersey in 1957, Cook has established a career that bridges the gap between pure mathematics and its application in industrial engineering, contributing heavily to the field of discrete optimization throughout his tenure at various institutions.
Academic Foundation
Cook initiated his academic trajectory at Rutgers University, completing his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1979. He advanced his studies at Stanford University, earning a master’s degree in operations research in 1980. His formal education culminated at the University of Waterloo, where he received a doctorate in combinatorics and optimization in 1983 under the supervision of U. S. R. Murty.
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Following postdoctoral work at the University of Bonn, Cook held faculty positions at Cornell University and Columbia University during the late 1980s. He also served on the research staff of Bell Communications Research. His career trajectory included periods as the John von Neumann Professor at the University of Bonn and the Noah Harding Professor at Rice University. Later, he held positions at Georgia Tech, the University of Pittsburgh, and Johns Hopkins University before returning to the University of Waterloo as a professor and University Professor.
Research and Editorial Contributions
Cook served as the founding editor-in-chief of the journal Mathematical Programming Computation starting in 2008. He previously managed Mathematical Programming, overseeing Series B from 1993 to 2003 and Series A from 2003 to 2007. His research output includes books such as Combinatorial Optimization, co-authored with William Cunningham, William R. Pulleyblank, and Alexander Schrijver, as well as The Traveling Salesman Problem: A Computational Study.
Professional Distinctions
The mathematical community recognized his work through several honors, including the Beale–Orchard-Hays Prize in 2000 and the Frederick W. Lanchester Prize in 2007. Cook was named a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics in 2009 and the American Mathematical Society in 2012. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2011 for his theoretical and computational contributions to discrete optimization.
Fast facts
- Born: 1957, New Jersey
- Doctorate: University of Waterloo, 1983
- Fellow, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics: 2009
- Fellow, American Mathematical Society: 2012
- Frederick W. Lanchester Prize: 2007
- Member, National Academy of Engineering: 2011
Questions readers ask
What is William J. Cook best known for?
He is recognized for his research on the traveling salesman problem and his work as a co-author of the Concorde TSP Solver.
Which universities have employed William J. Cook?
He has held academic roles at Stanford, Waterloo, Rutgers, Cornell, Columbia, Rice, Georgia Tech, the University of Bonn, the University of Pittsburgh, and Johns Hopkins.
Achievements
- Frederick W. Lanchester Prize — 2007
- Held posts at Cornell University, Rice University and Columbia University
