Most Prolific Inventor in Each State and DC
This list is compiled exclusively from the most prolific inventor in each state and DC, based on USPTO utility patent data from January 1, 1976, to September 17, 2024. Their most recent known address determines the inventor’s location. While inventors may have contributed to innovations in multiple regions, all of their patents are attributed to their last recorded place of residence.
51. Alaska | Lee Morgan Smith
Senior Vice President at Alaskan Energy Resources, Inc.
Lee M. Smith brings over 30 years of expertise in product development, global expansion, strategic marketing, and operational leadership. With a background at industry leaders like Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, and Halliburton Energy, he is now the Senior Vice President of Alaskan Energy Resources, Inc.
Lee has co-authored over 50 technical papers on innovative drilling technologies. He is a recognized industry leader for his contributions, including receiving the Petroleum Engineer International’s Award for Meritorious Engineering at the 1998 Offshore Technology Conference.
Method and apparatus for predicting the performance of a drilling system when drilling a well bore. It involves generating geological characteristics of the formation, such as rock strength, obtaining specifications for the proposed drilling equipment (including a recommended drill bit), and predicting drilling mechanics (e.g., bit wear, efficiency, and power)
50. Louisiana | James M Lapeyre, III
James Lapeyre III is the General Manager of Laitram Machinery and PRIME Shrimp, both divisions of the Laitram Corporation.
Laitram Machinery is known for its high-performance shrimp processing equipment, and under Lapeyre’s leadership, the company has developed cutting-edge solutions like the SMART Sorter, which uses laser imaging and computer-vision algorithms to revolutionize shrimp grading processes. This technology significantly enhances efficiency and product quality for shrimp processors worldwide.
49. Montana | Lisa Seacat DeLuca
Lisa Seacat DeLuca is an accomplished technology leader and inventor with a remarkable career in engineering, product management, and innovation. She currently serves as the Vice President of Engineering & Product at Unstoppable Domains, focusing on the future of web3 identity and login for the decentralized web.
Lisa has led globally distributed teams, pioneered modernization efforts in Fortune 500 companies, and approaches innovation with a mindset that views every project as a prototype ready to evolve.
Her educational background includes a Master’s in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University.
Lisa is a recognized trailblazer in the tech world, earning her place in the Women in Technology International (WITI) Hall of Fame and being featured in LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology for three consecutive years. Additionally, she holds the distinction of being IBM’s most prolific female inventor, with over 600 granted patents spanning cloud computing, IoT, AI, blockchain, and more.
Lisa is also a TED speaker, author of children’s books on technology, and a passionate advocate for innovation as an AAAS-Lemelson Inventor Ambassador. Her work continues to inspire and shape the future of technology and entrepreneurship.
48. Hawaii | Shin Nishibori
Shin Nishibori is a former industrial designer at Apple, best known for his role in the development of the iPhone and other products. Nishibori was part of the elite design team led by Jony Ive, Apple’s former Chief Design Officer, and he contributed to several iconic Apple designs.
Despite his significant contributions to Apple’s design team, Shin Nishibori left Apple. He has since worked on other ventures, including serving as CEO of a design-related company – Japan Original Design (JOD). His work at Apple helped shape the minimalist and sleek design language that the company is known for today.
47. West Virginia | James F Corum
Dr. James F. Corum is an electrical engineer with a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. He serves as the Chief Technical Officer for CPG Technologies, working on advanced electrical systems, including wireless power transmission through guided surface waves.
Dr. Corum is a senior member of the IEEE and has published extensively on topics like high-frequency electromagnetics and Tesla coil technology. He has contributed to several patents on surface wave power transmission and other electromagnetic applications.
His research and technical innovations have been applied in both industrial and defense contexts, and he has consulted for major government agencies like DARPA, NASA, and the Department of Defense.
Additionally, Dr. Corum has earned several teaching and research awards and has been acknowledged as a “National Treasure” by the U.S. Secretary of Defense for his contributions to radar technology
46. Wyoming | Rico L Zorkendorfer
Industrial Design at Apple
As a member of the Apple industrial design team Rico has been part of a core group of designers responsible for creating Apple products.
After graduating from Art Center product design in Fall 1996 he began his design career at the international design consultancy IDEO in San Francisco where he spent 6 years designing for a variety of clients and industries. In 2003 he joined the Apple industrial design team lead by Jonathan Ive.
At Apple, Rico has been part of a small and intimate team that is in charge of conceiving and designing all Apple products, packaging and aspects of the retail experience.
45. South Dakota | Peter Guzman
Plant Breeding/Product Development-Product Management.
Peter Guzman is a plant breeder and product development specialist currently working at United Genetics Seeds Co. He has a background in molecular plant breeding and product management, having played a significant role in corn breeding efforts.
Previously, Guzman has been involved in creating improved corn varieties that have benefited thousands of farmers. He also has experience working with companies like Syngenta, where he led efforts in corn product selection, contributing to innovations in agricultural products.
44. Maine | Christopher W Strock
Christopher W. Strock is an inventor affiliated with Raytheon Technologies Corporation, contributing significantly to advancements in turbine engine technology. His work primarily focuses on developing coatings and materials to enhance turbine components’ performance and durability.
Christopher holds multiple patents related to gas turbine engines, including abrasive coatings, thermal barrier coatings, and methods for improving the efficiency and lifespan of high-pressure compressors. His innovations aim to improve heat, corrosion, and wear resistance in critical aerospace applications.
43. District of Columbia | Abdelkader M’Hamed Benkreira
Abdelkader M’Hamed Benkreira is an inventor affiliated with Capital One Services, LLC, who has contributed to various patents related to financial technologies. His innovations span areas such as secure transactions, fraud detection, and real-time data processing.
Some notable patents include systems for predicting activity distribution across different mediums and wearable transaction devices that interact with user devices for secure payments.
Additionally, he has worked on fraud detection mechanisms using messaging accounts and enhancing merchant databases through crowdsourced browser data
42. Rhode Island | Paul J Smith
Paul Smith is an R&D Fellow at Boston Scientific, where he focuses on advancing medical devices, particularly in electrophysiology. His role involves leading the research and development of mechanical and electro-mechanical systems, focusing on creating solutions for complex medical problems.
Smith has a strong background in medical device development, with experience spanning over a decade in the field. His work not only emphasizes technical innovation but also patient safety, ensuring that the devices developed are both effective and reliable for clinical use
IDiyas Q&A: Meet inventor Esmael Dinan, Ofinno Founder/CTO with 1331+ Granted Patents!
January 10, 2023, Weekly USPTO Utility Patent Insights
Who are Prolific Inventors?
About The Author
Angelina Kushnarova
Angelina Kushnarova (Sverediuk) was born in Ukraine. She graduated from Ternopil Medical University with a specialization in Medicine and completed an internship in Radiology at Lviv University. She worked as a Radiologist, while also working as a web developer.