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Donn Silberman began his work in optics in 1976 when as a high school senior he volunteered as an astronomy student technician. There he learned how to operate a small planetarium, maintain the class telescopes and built his own 8" F/8 Newtonian. Donn attended the University of Arizona to study Astronomy, worked at the Flandreau Planetarium and ended up receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics (Honors in Physics). During his years at the UofA, Donn also worked at the Optical Sciences Center and taught undergraduate physics labs. Donn served as the Society of Physics Students President from 1981 - 1983 and as an SPS Councilor from 1983 - 1984. In October 1983, Donn published "Optical Levitation" in the Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics. He started this project 2 years earlier after attending a talk by Arthur Ashkin; who one the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics for his invention of Optical Tweezers.
Since then, Donn has logged over 40 years of management and technical experience in various optics based businesses, with a number of patents and publications to his credit. He has an extensive background in product management, including conceptualizing, research and development, quality assurance, product manufacturing, marketing and sales. Some of Donn’s notable positions include Senior R&D Optical Engineer for Johnson & Johnson’s IOLAB Corporation in Claremont, California; Operations Manager, Micro-Optics, for Corning Incorporated’s Advanced Photonics Technologies group in Garden Grove, California; and Engineering Systems Manager in the RAM Optical Instruments division of Newport Corporation in Irvine, California. Donn was also responsible for marketing Newport’s Opto-mechanic product line and introduced color product photos into the famous Newport catalog. Donn has worked as an Applications Engineer for MetroLaser, Inc., and PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P. in Irvine, CA, and then served as the Technical Services Manager for Starrett Metrology Systems. In 1994, Donn received a Masters of Science Technology Management from Pepperdine University.
Donn has held many volunteer positions with the OSSC, including Programs and Scholarship Chairs in the mid 1990’s and Newsletter Editor and Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President in the mid 2000’s. He is the Founding Director of The Optics Institute of Southern California which focuses on optics education outreach and worked closely with the OSSC, OSA, SPIE and MESA on the Hands-On Optics and other educational outreach programs for many years. Donn also served for several years as the Assistant Director of the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies at South Orange County Community College District's Advanced Technology and Education Park. Donn served for a number of years as a volunteer member of the Exhibits Committee at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, California and on the Leadership Council for the UC Irvine Beall Center for Art & Technology
In December 2012, Donn was the 2012-2013 Univ. of Arizona Honor's College Advocate for Education Award Winner and gave the Keynote Address at their Pre-commencement ceremony.
Donn created a website called OpticsAge which is a focal point for Donn Silberman's past Optics Education Adventures.
Donn was designated as a Senior Member of SPIE in 2009 and a Senior Member of OSAin 2010 for his specific achievements in optics education, outreach and engineering.
Donn has been married to Ana Maria for over 38 years and they have a son, Michael "Six" who is received his B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Columbia Univ. and his M.S. from the UC Irvine ACE program. Six received his Ph.D from the UC Irvine Department of Informatics, Social Code Group, worked for IG Metall in Frankfurt Germany for five years, worked for Organise in London for 18 months, and is now a Postdoctoral researcher in the iManage Project at the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at the University of Oxford and is the Lecturer in Sociotechnical Systems at Newspeak House in London.
In Feb 2021, Donn retired from Starrett (and his industry career) to spend more time with his family, study Quantum Mechanics and do more education & outreach in optics, photonics & quantum.
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