A Conversation with David Findley

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of David Findley's life, academic background, and significant contributions to the field of statistical time series analysis, highlighting his influential publications and awards.

Contribution

It offers a detailed biography emphasizing Findley's transition from pure mathematics to impactful work in time series analysis and seasonal adjustment research.

Findings

Influential publications in time series analysis

Leadership in seasonal adjustment at U.S. Census Bureau

Recognition through major awards and honors

Abstract

David Findley was born in Washington, DC on December 27, 1940. After attending high school in Lyndon, Kentucky, he earned a B.S. (1962) and M.A. (1963) in mathematics from the University of Cincinnati. He then lived in Germany, studying functional analysis under Gottfried K\"{o}the, obtaining a Ph.D. from the University of Frankfurt in 1967. Returning to the United States, he served as a mathematics professor at the University of Cincinnati until 1975. Having transitioned from pure mathematics to statistical time series analysis, Findley took a new academic position at the University of Tulsa, during which time he interacted frequently with the nearby research laboratories of major oil companies and consulted regularly for Cities Service Oil Company (now Citgo). In 1980 he was invited to lead the seasonal adjustment research effort at the U.S. Census Bureau, and eventually rose to be a Senior Mathematical Statistician before his retirement in 2009. In 1966 he married Mary Virginia Baker, and they currently live in Washington, DC. David Findley has published more than 40 journal articles and book chapters, as well as dozens of technical reports and conference proceedings, many of which are heavily cited and influential. He has also published two edited volumes (1978 and 1981) that have had a substantial impact on the field of time series analysis. Numerous honors and awards have accrued to him, including ASA Fellow (1987), the Julius Shiskin award (1996) and the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal (1997).