M. J. Soileau received his PhD in quantum electronics from the University of Southern California.

Currently, he is Professor of Optics, Electrical, and Computer Engineering and Physics and is the Vice President for Research at CREOL. His research focus is the nonlinear optical properties of materials and laser-induced damage.

Soileau is a Fellow of OSA, IEEE, and SPIE. In addition to the Ester Hoffman Beller Medal, he has been awarded the Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the SPIE Gold Medal Award, and is a member of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame.