What do you view as the highlights of your career? These can be in terms of greatest challenges, most satisfying achievements, or most enjoyable projects.

I have made contributions to the Semiconductor Capital Equipment industry and to Medical Device industry. Three years ago I joined with four other engineers to fund and start up a Medical Device Research and Engineering outsourcing company (Circle Medical Devices, Inc). This has been a very successful and satisfying venture.

Relate your education to your career and current responsibilities.

I graduated with a BSEE from San Jose State in 1976. For a while I pursued a masters in Computer Engineering, but starvation forced me into the work force. This was at the time of the birth of the microprocessor. Initially I designed systems using vacuum tube technology, then discreet semiconductors, and then Microprocessors and VHDL. I have used almost all of my University training during my career (OK, not cultural anthropology, but it was fun) to solve real world problems. Statics, Dynamics, Thermal transport, fluid flow, AC/DC machinery, and of course electronics, have all been useful.

What part of your formal education has proven most useful to your professional success?

Engineers have to be broad if they are going to be able to overcome obsolescence. My humble opinion is that a university education in engineering should just put enough tools in your tool bag to be able to learn the current technology and then tomorrow's next generation technology. All of those physics and core courses in engineering are crucial to being continuously competent.

What specific advice would you offer to engineering students as they complete their education and prepare to launch their careers?

Don't wait to be told what to do on your first job. Learn what everybody is already doing. Ask questions. Reverse engineer everything you can get your hands on. Be a pest but not a pain, contribute, and above all, enjoy.

I joined the Navy after high school, and spent a year in Electronics school. The next three years I repaired Radars/Radios/Cryptographic-equipment in the 7th fleet. There I developed a fine taste for electronics. After discharge, I earned a BSEE from San Jose State University, and worked for 20 years in the burgeoning Semiconductor Equipment industry. My last position in Semiconductors was director of new product development at a division of Eaton, Corp. After working for three years for a medical device company, I joined with four other engineers to start up CMD, a Medical Device Engineering design company.