Seymour Melman, born in 1917, was a distinguished professor emeritus of industrial engineering and operations research at Columbia University. For fifty years, he dedicated his work to the concept of economic conversion, advocating for the orderly transition of military industries and facilities to civilian production. He authored influential books such as 'The Permanent War Economy' and 'Pentagon Capitalism,' establishing himself as a prominent economist, writer, and a vocal critic of the military-industrial complex.

Melman's academic journey included a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University in 1949, after which he joined the faculty, becoming a beloved instructor until his retirement in 2003. His activism and leadership extended to various organizations, including serving as President of the Association for Evolutionary Economics, Vice President of the New York Academy of Sciences, and co-chair of SANE (Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy). His efforts contributed to the inclusion of an economic conversion plank in the Democratic party platform. Melman passed away in 2004.

Seymour Melman's academic career was deeply intertwined with his activism. After earning his Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University in 1949, he joined the faculty, where he taught until 2003. His intellectual life was marked by association with various scholarly circles, including the Frame of Reference group led by Zellig Harris and a cohort of scholars at Columbia University, such as sociologist Robert S. Lynd. He was also connected to a broad network of national and international figures focused on disarmament, economic conversion, and economic democracy, including prominent individuals like Noam Chomsky and John Kenneth Galbraith. Melman held leadership positions in several organizations, including the Association for Evolutionary Economics and SANE, and was instrumental in advocating for economic conversion policies.

A central theme throughout Melman's extensive writings and activism was the concept of economic conversion. He championed the idea of transitioning industries and facilities from military production to civilian needs, arguing for a more rational and peaceful allocation of resources. His seminal works, 'The Permanent War Economy' and 'Pentagon Capitalism,' explored the economic and political implications of a sustained military economy. Melman viewed this conversion not just as an economic necessity but as a pathway to a more just and productive society. His work aimed to challenge the prevailing logic of the military-industrial complex and promote a vision of economic democracy and demilitarization.

“The joy of accomplishing production. It's a great thing. The work I've been doing now for some time is writing an article, writing a book, or researching something. It's an accomplishment. It's a great thing. No, more exactly, it's living. It's being alive. To be productive is to be alive.”

“A bomb equivalent to 20 million tons of TNT would cause an intense fire called a 'fire storm' in an area about 2,000 square miles (5,200 km2) around the area of the blast. And in such an area it would be futile, desperately futile to construct what are called 'fallout shelters'.”