Johnson, Lonnie George
1949- · Contribution: 1986
Super Soaker water gun; thermal energy transfer research
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
The Super Soaker became the top-selling toy in the U.S. in 1991-1992 and has generated nearly $1 billion in retail sales; Johnson reinvested earnings into clean energy research.
Life & background
A mechanical and nuclear engineer, Johnson invented the Super Soaker while researching thermal energy transfer engines. A former NASA engineer, he later founded his own research lab focused on energy technology and has authored several publications on spacecraft power systems.
Sources
- National Inventors Hall of Fame; Smithsonian
More in Technology & Engineering
Abebe, Rediet
1991-
Algorithmic fairness research
Adkins, Rodney
1958-
IBM's first African American corporate officer and Senior Vice President (2007); an engineering and development leader who helped launch the IBM ThinkPad and led IBM's Systems & Technology Group; inducted into the National Academy of Engineering (2005)
Alexander, Archie
1888-1958
Civil engineering for roads and bridges
Austin, Wanda M.
1954-present
Aerospace and systems engineering: satellite and payload system acquisition, systems engineering, and system simulation for national-security space programs