Bahman Taheri earned his doctorate in laser physics in 1995 from Oklahoma State University. He is an adjunct professor of chemical physics at Kent State Universty. He is the founder and CEO of AlphaMicron Inc. in Kent, a company that develops cutting-edge technology. A company of 25 with no outside debt or venture investments, AlphaMicron makes liquid crystal eyewear. AlphaMicron was established in 1997 in response to a request by the U.S. Air Force for the development of variable transmittance visors for pilots. The request spurred a startup company that eventually received a contract from the Air Force. AlphaMicron also has developed consumer versions of its technology, which is used in motorcycle helmets and ski goggles. AlphaMicron’s Variable Attenuation Liquid Crystal Device, or VALID, technology gives users instantaneous control over the tint and color of eyewear, either automatically or by the touch of a finger. The company has been recognized by many organizations and publications, including Lockheed Martin’s Center for Excellence and Popular Science magazine.