John Hayes, PhD, discovered a passion for physics, astronomy, and optics at a very early age when he started building spectroscopes and telescopes. In high school, he built a 12.5-inch Newtonian-Cassegrain telescope which he utilized along with his own camera to take pictures of the planets.
Furthering this interest, John enrolled at the University of Arizona where he received an undergraduate degree in Physics and Astronomy. Then turning his focus to optics, he received his Masters and PhD degrees, also at the UA.
In 1985, John joined WYKO Corp., where he developed numerous interferometers, scanning probe microscopes and other optical metrology products for the optical, data storage and semiconductor markets. In 2001, he co-founded 4D Technology, an innovative developer of advanced high-speed, vibration-insensitive interferometers for the aerospace industry. He has authored numerous technical publications and holds 14 patents.
John is a pilot with an Airline Transport Pilot rating, an instrument and multi-engine flight instructor, a technical rock climber, and he operates remote astronomical imaging telescopes in New Mexico and in Chile. His images have been recognized with numerous Image of the Day awards on Astrobin.com and a NASA Astronomy Pictor of the Day, and he enjoys using his engineering background to further explore and advance the state of the art of optics and astronomical imaging.
John and his wife, Jane Quale, are known for their genuine interest in science education and have funded three graduate student Friends of Tucson Optics scholarships in their names at Wyant College. To further express their profound belief that the College’s faculty and students will change the world with their research and discoveries, John and Jane generously established the John B. Hayes Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences.