Robert D. Maurer (born July 20, 1924) is an American physicist and engineer renowned for his pioneering work in optical fiber communication. In 1970, he and his colleagues at Corning Glass Works developed the first low-loss optical fiber, a breakthrough that revolutionized global telecommunications. This invention enabled high-speed internet, long-distance phone calls, and modern data networks. Maurer's contributions earned him numerous honors, including the Charles Stark Draper Prize and the National Medal of Technology. His research career was primarily at Corning, where he advanced fiber optics from a laboratory concept to a commercial reality. Maurer's work is considered one of the most transformative technological achievements of the 20th century.
