Walter Scott Huxford was an American professor of physics at Northwestern University and was a co-inventor of the sunburnometer.
He spent two years as an officer in the US Army Signal Corps during and after the first world war, teaching in Nebraska high schools and at Doane College, where he was head of the Physics Department, and three years as an industrial physicist.
He joined the faculty of Northwestern University in 1931, where he continued to serve as a teacher and research scientist until his death.
During and following the second world war he served as director of research and development programs at Northwestern on the use of optical radiation for communication, sponsored by the US Navy Bureau of Ships and the US Army Signal Corps.
His contributions to the national defense were recognized by award of the Army and Navy Certificate of Merit in 1947.