绿帽换妻

Chance favors the prepared mind is a Thomas Jefferson quote that two-time Cal State East Bay alumnus, Dr. Joe Knapik ‘70 and ‘74, likes to say.

After honorably serving his country as a scientist for 50 years— in the Army and for the Department of Defense — Knapik believes his career’s success came from preparing for anticipated opportunities. Now, he is prepared to serve his alma mater with the same devotion by announcing the Dr. Joseph J. Knapik Kinesiology Research Center Endowment.

Hoping to help students studying the science of human movement and physical activity, his $2.5 million endowment will go toward research efforts in the same kinesiology department that jump-started his passion for scientific research.

“Cal State East Bay is what got me going on exercise science, and to a large extent I've been successful because of what I learned there, which started me off on a scientific career,” said Knapik.

Knapik had been passionate about the sciences all his life, thanks largely to his father who always encouraged him to pursue a scientific understanding.

His father modeled the life of an experimenter, designing Nike missiles for the military before developing sprinkler nozzles for the parched LA Basin region.

He also experimented with home-brewing, but “he didn't make very good beers,” said Knapik, who sampled it with his siblings. “And he didn’t know much about bottling, either, because every once in a while you'd hear” — Knapik makes a pop sound — “and we knew it was one of his bottles exploding.”

Growing up in Riverside, California, Knapik wandered the riverbed of the Santa Ana River, collecting water samples from stagnant pools that remained long after the rains. Then, using the microscope his father bought him, he’d study the microorganisms.

His father drove Knapik to far-off places to satiate his curiosity. He’d take him to the coastal towns of San Clemente and Newport to collect sea urchins and anemones. “He used to take me out to Griffith Park Observatory. It was probably about a three-hour drive, but he'd take me out for the planetarium shows.”

But once Knapik entered his late teens, the allure of life’s possibilities drew him away from his sleepy town and toward ground zero of the United States’ cultural transformation — the Bay Area. 

“I kind of wanted to get away from Riverside and be on my own,” he said. “And, actually, the reason I picked Cal State Hayward was because it was near San Francisco, and it was up on a hill that had a fantastic view.” (Cal State East Bay was previously named Cal State Hayward.)

Although Knapik had little idea of what he wanted out of life, he knew he wanted to play tennis after a neighbor — an accomplished player herself — had taught him the game during his childhood. He excelled on the Cal State Hayward tennis team during the two years it took to complete his BS in psychology and his BA in physical education in 1970. 

His undergraduate experience in the exercise science classes (known today as kinesiology) rekindled his love of experimentation and convinced him to stay and pursue the sciences over physical education teaching. He enrolled in Cal State Hayward’s Master of Physical Education program, concentrating on exercise science, and graduated in 1974. 

“When I look back, that's what really pushed my career forward into those particular areas,” said Knapik, acknowledging the scientific research skills he received from Doctors Calvin Caplan and Dick Rivenes.

Prepared, he enlisted in the Army as a biological researcher at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. He felt grateful when scientists would help further his knowledge. Adhering to his commitment to self-improvement for future opportunities, he conducted research during the day while studying for his doctorate at night. He eventually received his ScD in Applied Anatomy and Physiology in 1984, and like clockwork, more chances came along.

He moved to the U.S. Army War College to improve the fitness of officers, then was assigned to the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground. He retired from the Army after 20 years, but that didn’t slow him down. Soon after, he accepted a civil service appointment with the Department of Defense, performing studies for another 30 years.

His scientific work spans half a century and has played an important role in helping the Army transform into today’s modern military. His deep and expansive scientific knowledge is preserved in over 400 publications he authored, which continue to be cited by today’s physiological researchers.

From increasing troop conditioning and reducing injuries to parachute redesigns that reduced injuries by over 40% to snowshoes that vastly reduced physical exertion across challenging treks and many more discoveries, his scientific contributions have led to a trove of awards and recognitions and, most importantly, more fit and better-equipped soldiers.

These days, Knapik still loves to peer into a microscope just as he did as a boy. This time, he’s trying to identify a strange eight-legged microorganism he found in the water while kayaking. And he’s vastly improved on the Knapik home-brewing operation.

He’s as fit as ever, cycling and hiking almost daily across Pennsylvania’s backroads and trails. And, like a good soldier, he doesn’t hesitate to accept the call when the Department of Defense reaches out for his expertise.

Knapik is certain that all these opportunities came his way because he had adequately prepared himself. And now he’d like to help future Cal State East Bay students to prepare for careers as rich and rewarding as his.

“Maybe there'll be some other people that would benefit from it. And also, you know, make some kind of contribution to the sciences like I have,” said Knapik.