Colonel Alden L. Winn graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1937. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and received an ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve.
In October 1940, Colonel Winn was assigned to active duty as a battery officer in the 68th Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft (AA) Regiment at Camp Edwards, MA. From 1941-1942, Colonel Winn performed duties as a training officer at the AA Replacement Training Center at Ft Eustis, VA. He was promoted to captain and became an instructor at Radar School, HQ AA Training Center, Ft Bliss, TX. In 1944 he served on overseas temporary duty teaching troops how to use new radar technology. He volunteered to remain overseas as a brigade radar officer with the 52nd AAA Brigade; this decision brought him a promotion to major.
As part of the rear echelon of the 9th Air Defense Command, his brigade crossed the English Channel, and Colonel Winn established an early warning system which successfully foiled the German attempts to bomb 9th Air Force tactical fighter planes on the ground. Essentially, these radar systems and subsequent air battles marked the downfall of the German Air Force. During the Battle of the Bulge, his brigade was reassigned to the 1st Army and to crucial duty in anti-tank defense. For his significant contributions in the Battle of the Bulge, Colonel Winn was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Colonel Winn returned to the United States in 1945 and finished his military service in the United States Army Reserve. He performed many duties from radar officer to instructor for the Command and General Staff Course. He was promoted to colonel before retiring. As a contributor to the civilian community, Alden Winn served on the Durham Planning Board and as a Selectman. During his service, he guided the town in a fight against having an oil refinery on Durham Point.
Following his active duty service, Colonel Winn obtained his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at MIT (1948) and joined the UNH Electical Engineering Faculty. He became a full professor in 1954 and served as department chair from 1952-1967. He was a member of the University Senate and Faculty Council as well as many other university, college and departmental committees. He conducted research in ocean instrumentation, bioinstrumentation and solid-state theory. Alden Winn retired as Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering in 1983. Following his retirement from UNH, he continued to serve in the Dean’s Office of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. He was also co-director of the Northern New England Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Additionally, he served on the New Hampshire Task Force on Mathematics and Science Education. Alden was also co-director, Secondary School Science Teachers Information Partnership.
| Hall of Fame Members | UNH Army ROTC | UNH Air Force ROTC | UNH Homepage |
Please contact me via email or telephone, (603) 862-1078/1079 for further information or updates. We are also soliciting contact information for UNH ROTC graduates from all classes.