George Westinghouse (1846-1914), American electri- cal engineer. Westinghouse became a prolific inventor after serving in both the army and the navy during the American Civil War. He designed an air brake for trains, which became the standard in the USA and Europe. He also developed pneumatic railroad signals. Away from the railroads, he developed a safe system for the piping of natural gas, and pioneered the use of alternating current (AC) electricity in the USA. He modified European AC generators and transformers and founded an AC supply in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was awarded the John Fritz medal.