This paper describes Hua Loo-Keng's contributions as a strategic mathematician by investigating his deeds in proposing and implementing the work plan of the Institute of Mathematics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, participating in the formulation of the national science and technology plans, planning and preparing the China's computer undertaking, initiating and organizing middle school students' mathematical competitions, popularizing and promoting the critical path method and optimum seeking method. It is concluded that Hua developed his idea of developing an institute of mathematics in 1943 and put it into practice at the Institute of Mathematics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He made historic contributions to planning China's computing technology and mathematical development. He played an extremely important role in advocating and organizing China's computer undertaking and middle school students' mathematical competitions, as well as in popularizing and promoting the critical path method and optimum seeking method. Hua's transformation from a self-taught youth to an outstanding strategic mathematician was the result of interactions of internal and external factors.

Hua Loo-Keng  /  institute of mathematics  /  science and technology plan  /  computer undertaking  /  mathematical competition  /  critical path method and optimum seeking method