George Dantzig was an American mathematician known for his significant contributions to operations research and linear programming. Born on November 8, 1914, he developed the Simplex Algorithm, a method for solving linear programming problems that has been widely used in various fields, including economics, engineering, and military logistics. Dantzig's work laid the foundation for modern optimization techniques, making complex decision-making processes more efficient. He also served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and later held academic positions at institutions like Stanford University. Dantzig passed away on May 13, 2005, leaving a lasting impact on mathematics and applied sciences.