ECE Hall of Fame

2026

Wayne Chen

Wayne H. Chen, Ph.D., was a transformative leader, visionary educator and pioneering figure in engineering whose impact continues to shape the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida. Chen began his association with the college in 1952 as an assistant professor and 

became chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and associate dean for research and innovation in 1965. In 1973, he was appointed by the State of Florida Board of Regents as the fifth dean of the UF College of Engineering, a position he held with distinction until 1988. 

During his 15-year tenure as dean, Chen guided the college through a period of remarkable growth and innovation. Under his leadership, research expenditures increased from $4 million to $30 million, and college rose as high as 16th in federally sponsored research expenditures from among approximately 300 engineering schools. The college achieved national recognition for its academic programs and interdisciplinary research. 

Chen championed early advancements in electronic distance learning, computer engineering, and environmental engineering, and oversaw the development of the Graduate Engineering Education System (GENESYS) — a pioneering two-way educational television network that connected students 

from industry with faculty across Florida long before modern online learning existed. He also established the Engineering Advisory Council, which helped build strong alliances between the college and industry. This later became the Dean’s Advisory Board. 

Chen was committed to expanding access and opportunity in engineering education. During his tenure, student enrollment tripled. He started the college’s Office of Minority Affairs, which led to significant increases in students, particularly women and those from underrepresented groups. An accomplished scholar, Chen authored textbooks and published research about linear systems and switching systems. He received numerous professional and community honors, including the Florida Blue Key Outstanding Faculty Award, Tau Beta Pi Eminent Engineer Award, UF Teacher-Scholar Award and recognition as an IEEE Fellow. 

Chen’s legacy extends beyond his administrative achievements; he championed interdisciplinary programs and research centers that helped lay the foundations for modern robotics, biomedical engineering, transportation systems and nuclear engineering at UF. His belief in the power of engineering to improve society and serve the greater good remains a guiding principle of the college. 

Kent Fuchs

Kent Fuchs, Ph.D., led the University of Florida into the ranks of the nation’s best public universities. With his kindness and sense of humor, he was immensely popular with students and inspired goodwill for UF statewide and nationally.  

Fuchs served as UF’s 12th president from January 2015 to February 2023 and as interim president from August 2024 to September 2025. He may be best remembered for guiding UF to a decades‑old goal of joining the nation’s top‑10 public research universities. During the last two years of his presidency, the university was ranked among the nation’s top‑5 — an achievement few thought possible when he set that goal in his inauguration address. 

Under his leadership, the university topped $1 billion in annual research, completed a $4.6 billion capital campaign, and added 2.8 million square feet of new facilities. UF created and filled 600 faculty positions from 2015 to 2022 — more than any other university in the country. First‑time‑in‑college applications more than doubled, topping 65,000 for 7,000 positions in the 2022‑23 academic year, and continued to climb past 90,000 in the 2024‑25 academic year. 

UF led the nation with a university‑wide artificial‑intelligence initiative and created significant new graduate, research, and clinical facilities and programs elsewhere in the state, including the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology. 

Whatever challenges UF was facing, Fuchs led with warmth and what he called “purposeful fun” that delighted students and community members. He was known for kicking off fall semesters by wearing a chauffeur’s cap, delivering students to their classes in a “VIP golf cart,” joining his wife to live with 

incoming students in the residence halls, and his legendary April Fools’ Day pranks. 

Prior to the UF presidency, Fuchs served as provost at Cornell University. His career also included serving as professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, head of electrical and computer engineering and distinguished professor at Purdue University and dean of engineering at Cornell. He earned a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Illinois, a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Duke University. 

Warren B. Nelms

Warren B. Nelms (BSEE ‘59) was an innovative engineer, entrepreneur, inventor and generous philanthropist whose lifelong curiosity and technical ingenuity left a lasting legacy in both industry and education. 

Born July 31, 1937, in Brooksville, Florida, Nelms showed his inventive spirit early, creating an auto‑dial telephone system while still in high school. 

Nelms earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida in 1959 and later completed an MBA at the University of Pittsburgh in 1968. While at UF, he served as drum major of the university band and was deeply involved in campus technical activities, reflecting his blend of analytical and creative talents. 

After graduating, Nelms began his professional career with Westinghouse, where he rose to become District Engineer of the Year and Florida West Coast Engineer of the Year. In 1981, he founded his own company, Computec, and continued to innovate, developing devices such as the Bluebox and the Watt 

Counter — tools that helped educate consumers about home energy use and efficiency. 

Nelms’s passion for innovation and education endured into his retirement. He and his wife, Patsy, built an award‑winning, energy‑efficient home known as Tree Cove in Florida, a testament to his lifelong commitment to sustainability and practical engineering. 

In recognition of his contributions and to keep his impact alive for future generations, his family made a generous endowment to the University of Florida to create the Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World — a research institute dedicated to advancing technologies in the Internet 

of Things, connectivity and intelligent systems. The institute promotes cutting‑edge research and education that address global challenges in health, energy, transportation and manufacturing. 

Nelms died May 16, 2021, at the age of 83, but his inventive legacy and support for technological research continue to inspire students, innovators and engineers at UF and beyond. 

2025

Steve Blum

Steve Blum (BSEE ‘87) is the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Autodesk. In his role, Blum leads go-to-market strategy and operations as Autodesk transforms how the world is designed and made, overseeing all teams responsible for sales, marketing, customer success, digital platforms, and customer experience. Since joining Autodesk in 2003, Blum has been a driving force behind several of the most transformative, customer-focused business shifts. Steve boldly led the field organization through a large-scale digital transformation, Autodesk’s complete transition from perpetual licenses to a subscription based and software as a service (SaaS) model. His strategic initiatives include establishing Autodesk’s first customer success organization, launching dynamic global named account programs, and developing a robust partner channel framework. Prior to Autodesk, he held leadership positions at several technology companies where he consistently drove growth through collaborative approaches and customer focus. Blum served as executive vice president of sales and account management at Parago Inc., where he expanded the national client base significantly. At Mentor Graphics, he was vice president of US sales, growing annual business significantly during his tenure. Beyond his corporate leadership, Blum extends his impact through dedicated board service. He’s served as an Autodesk Foundation Board Member since 2013, and has been on the Voices of Hope for Aphasia Board for the past decade. Blum holds a Bachelor of Science degree Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida.

Manuel Fernandez

Manuel Fernandez (BSEE ‘67) has been the managing director of SI Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on IT and communications infrastructure since its inception in 1998. Prior to his present positions, Manny was chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Gartner Inc., a leading information technology research and consulting company, serving in this role from 1990 to 2000. Previously, he was president and chief executive officer at Dataquest Inc. (a market research company), Gavilan Computer Corporation (a laptop manufacturer), and Zilog Incorporated (a microprocessor company). He presently serves as director of Leggett & Platt Inc. and as lead director of Performance Food Group. Fernandez previously served as chairman of Brunswick Corp. and Sysco Foods. Fernandez holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida (UF), and completed post-graduate work in solidstate engineering at UF. He served on the President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee under President George W. Bush. He also served as chairman of the UF Board of Trustees from 2003 to 2007 and is the recipient of an entrepreneur of the year award.

James Spoto

James Spoto (BSEE ‘73, MSEE ‘74) is a seasoned executive with 40 years of experience shaping the semiconductor and electronic design automation (EDA) landscapes. He began his career at Harris Semiconductor, pioneering radiation-hardened analog and mixed-signal IC design, and rose to direct their EDA engineering. From Harris, he outsourced people and EDA technology to build the Cadence Analog Division from the ground up, driving its dominance in custom IC EDA tools as vice president of engineering. His later tenure at Conexant/Rockwell as senior VP of technology focused on advancing semiconductor processes, multi-chip packaging, and EDA strategies. Demonstrating entrepreneurial acumen, Spoto successfully guided Applied Wave Research (AWR – RF EDA) and Sunrise Micro Devices (lowenergy Zigbee & Bluetooth IP) to successful acquisitions as CEO. Today, he leverages his extensive expertise as an executive advisor to startups and contributes to the future of engineering education as a member of the University of Florida’s Dean’s and ECE External Advisory Boards. Spoto also serves on the Florida Semiconductor Institute Advisory Board. Spoto holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Florida.

Steve Yatauro

Steve Yatauro (BSEE ‘89) is the president of ExxonMobil Pipeline Company LLC (EMPCo), a role he has held since 2020. EMPCo is dedicated to the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible transportation of energy. The company manages the transportation of crude oil, refined products, liquefied petroleum gases, natural gas liquids, CO₂, and chemical feedstocks through more than 4,000 miles of pipelines. Yatauro earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida in 1989. He began his career with Exxon Company, U.S.A., as a telecommunications engineer in Houston, Texas. Over his career of more than 35 years with ExxonMobil, Yatauro has held various engineering and managerial positions across multiple business lines. He is actively involved in industry organizations, serving as the chair of the American Petroleum Institute (API) / Liquid Energy Pipeline Association (LEPA) Pipeline Safety Excellence Steering Committee, chair of the API Pipeline Steering Group, and as a member of the API Midstream Committee. Throughout his career, Yatauro has been committed to community service, participating in volunteer and board member roles. He has served as board president and community campaign chair for United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo in Northern Alberta, Canada, as an advisory board member for the Salvation Army in Torrance, California, and as a board director for United Way of Greater Los Angeles. In his leisure time, Steve enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, and spending time with his family. He and his wife, Trish, are the proud parents of three daughters: Alexa, Gabrielle, and Michaela.

2024

Richard M. Eubanks

Richard M. Eubanks (BSEE ‘95) is president and chief executive officer and director of The Brink’s Company (a global leader in total cash management and secure logistics). Prior to his May 2022 appointment as CEO, Eubanks served as executive vice president and chief operating officer since September 2021.

Aurelio E. Fernandez

Aurelio Fernandez (BSEE ’79) was born in Holguin, Cuba, on Dec. 19, 1954. He immigrated to the United States in 1966. His family settled in Hialeah, FL, where he spent most of his childhood until attending the University of Florida, where he studied electrical engineering. He began his career at Westinghouse Electric (Power Systems) but quickly saw the growing opportunities in computers and semiconductors. He proceeded to Digital Equipment Corp., beginning his career in technical sales. In 1981, Intel recruited him to focus on key accounts in South Florida. At Intel he learned the discipline required for high achievement with a focus on management by objectives, a practice he continued through out his career. In 1984, he was recruited by VLSI Technology, then a startup, as regional manager for the Southeast. At VLSI his responsibilities grew to vice president of Eastern sales & design centers and then on to vice president of strategic accounts. In 1994, seeking the position of vice president of worldwide sales, he moved to Silicon Valley where he spent time at two startups. Then, in 1997, he was recruited by Broadcom as their first vice president of worldwide sales. In 1998, he was part of the executive team who took Broadcom public. He and his team grew sales from $35 million to over $1 billion in three years. At that time, Broadcom was the fastest company to reach a billion in sales in the semiconductor industry. He retired from Broadcom in 2002, and has since been an investor in real estate and venture capital.

Michael Hsing

Michael Hsing (BSEE ’88) is the founder and CEO of Monolithic Power Systems, an S&P 500 company. Hsing was born in Shanghai, China, and grew up during the Cultural Revolution. During that time, schools were essentially shut down; but Hsing possessed vast curiosities about how things work, particularly in math and physics. When he was 21, he came to the U.S. as a foreign exchange student. He gained English proficiency quickly and worked many odd jobs to support himself through college. However, due to an undiagnosed learning disability, Hsing struggled. It was during his later years at UF, with the help of his professors, he was able to identify and conquer his learning disability. This redefined the trajectory of his life, and in 1988, he graduated with his BSEE and was accepted into the graduate program at UF. Hsing started MPS in late 1997 with a vision, reflected in the name of the company, Monolithic Power Systems – to integrate power electronics solutions onto a single chip. To execute his vision, Hsing created groundbreaking technologies using a fully integrated power process in a CMOS foundry. In 1998, a single-chip solution was created for powering CCFL backlighting in notebooks. By 2016, under Hsing’s leadership, MPS integrated power transistors, high-precision analog circuitries in embedded microcontrollers, and memory components onto a single silicon chip. Finally fulfilling Hsing’s vision, MPS introduced an industry first – a cost-effective, user-configurable, micro power module – an entire power system in a single package.

Pramod P. Khargonekar

Pramod P. Khargonekar, Ph.D. (MS (mathematics) LS ‘80; Ph.D. EG ‘81), was born in Indore, India, on August 24, 1956. Both his parents were schoolteachers, and they instilled a love of learning from his childhood. He received B. Tech. degree in electrical engineering in 1977 from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India. He continued his education at the University of Florida, receiving his M.S. degree in mathematics in 1980 and Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1981. Dr. Khargonekar has been on faculty at UF, the University of Minnesota, the University of Michigan, and the University of California, Irvine. From 1997 to 2001, he became chairman of the University of Michigan’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and held the position of Claude E. Shannon Professor of Engineering Science. In 2001, he was recruited back to UF to become the dean of the College of Engineering until 2009. He was also Eckis Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 2001 to 2016. He served briefly as deputy director of technology at ARPA-E, U. S. Department of Energy in 2012–13. He was appointed by the National Science Foundation to serve as assistant director for the Directorate of Engineering in March 2013. In June 2016, he assumed his current position as vice chancellor for research and distinguished professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Khargonekar is known for his brilliant, high-impact research contributions to theory and applications of systems and control. His early work was on mathematical control theory, specifically focusing on robust control analysis and design. In late 1980s, he made groundbreaking contributions to the state-space solution to the H-infinity control problem. This work is recognized to be the greatest theoretical achievement in the control systems field since the pioneering work of R. E. Kalman, Ph.D., in the 1960s.

Chris Malachowsky

Chris Malachowsky (BSEE ’80) graduated with his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida in 1980 and received his MSCS from Santa Clara University in 1986. He has been awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from both universities. In 1993, Malachowsky helped established NVIDIA, a California-based multinational technology company that continues to make significant contributions to the data science and information technology industries. At NVIDIA, he serves as a member of the executive staff, an NVIDIA Fellow, and as a senior technology executive. A recognized authority on integrated-circuit design and methodology, he has authored close to 40 patents. Beyond his technical accomplishments, Malachowsky has also received an Emmy for a film he helped produce, Inheritance, that won Best Documentary in 2009. Malachowsky was inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame in 2019, and the University of Florida Academy of Golden Gators in 2022. In 2021, Malachowsky, along with NVIDIA, gifted to the university UF’s world-class AI focused supercomputer HiPerGator AI. He also is the namesake for the Malachowsky Hall for Data Science and Information Technology, a state-of-the- art academic building and hub that connects students, faculty, and researchers from across disciplines in pursuit of advances that capitalize on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. UF has also granted him an honorary Doctorate in Technology.

Linda Rae

Linda Rae (BSEE ‘87) is the General Manager for the Power Generation / Oil and Gas software businesses for GE Vernova (the energy-focused spinoff of General Electric). In this role, Rae is responsible for driving profitable growth for the business, serving energy, oil and gas, chemical, and metals and mining verticals. Prior to this role, Rae spent nine years at Danaher and Fortive Corporations in several president roles, including commercial president for Tektronix and President of Qualitrol Corporation. She spent the first 15 years of her career at Keithley Instruments, where she served as executive vice president and chief operating officer prior to Keithley’s acquisition by Danaher. Rae is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida, the board of directors for the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, and the visiting committee for the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Rae holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida and an MS in Electrical Engineering and MBA degrees from Case Western Reserve University.

Walden C. (Wally) Rhines

Walden C. (Wally) Rhines, Ph.D., is president and CEO of Cornami, Inc., a fabless semiconductor and software company focused on fully homomorphic encryption. He was previously CEO of Mentor Graphics for 25 years and chairman of the board for 17 years. During his tenure at Mentor, revenue nearly quadrupled and market value of the company increased tenfold. Prior to joining Mentor Graphics, Dr. Rhines was executive vice president, semiconductor group, responsible for TI’s worldwide semiconductor business. Dr. Rhines has served on the boards of Cirrus Logic, QORVO, TriQuint Semi- conductor, Global Logic, PTK Corp., Silvaco, Pallidus, Caspia and as chairman of the Electronic Design Automation Consortium (five two-year terms). He is a lifetime fellow of the IEEE. Dr. Rhines holds a bachelor of science degree in engineering from the University of Michigan, a master of science and Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Stanford University, an MBA from Southern Methodist University and honorary doctor of technology degrees from the University of Florida and Nottingham Trent University. In 2021, the Global Semiconductor Alliance honored Dr. Rhines with its prestigious Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award.

Sachio Semmoto

Sachio Semmoto, Ph.D. (ME ‘68; Ph.D. ‘71), received his BS in electrical engineering from Kyoto University, Japan in 1966 and his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Florida in 1971. Dr. Semmoto is a highly successful entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in senior management positions with several leading Japanese telecommunication companies. His career began when he joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (NTT, Japan) in 1966, staying until 1983. After successfully campaigning to establish a deregulated telecommunications industry in Japan, in 1984 he co-founded Japan’s first private telecom startup, DDI, now KDDI. Today he serves as the executive chairman of RENOVA, Inc., a renewable energy power company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Under his leadership, RENOVA has grown from a private startup to become Japan’s leader in renewable energy, publicly listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2017. The company continues to develop innovative large-scale renewable energy plants, including off-shore wind, large-scale biomass, and utility-scale solar PV. With his entrepreneurial and management experience, combined with an extensive network, Dr. Semmoto is deeply engaged with RENOVA’s business activities. In the past, Dr. Semmoto has also served on the boards of several world-class companies, including NetApp, a leading cloud/data management company in Silicon Valley (US), and Reuters Shareholding Company, a first-class communi- cations company (UK).

Yangbin Wang

Yangbin Wang (MSEE ‘93) is a pioneer in developing innovative technologies for digital content protection and transactions that increase revenue for content owners. In 2005, he founded Vobile, a global leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider in content protection and the transaction of digital assets. Under Wang’s leadership, Vobile has achieved tremendous growth over a decade—going from a Silicon Valley startup to a global public company with a successful IPO in 2018. He remains the company’s chairman and CEO. Vobile develops software services based on its VDNA digital fingerprinting and watermarking core technologies, widely deployed by rightsholders such as movie studios, television networks, and streaming platforms for content protection and monetization. In honor of Vobile’s innovation excellence in developing video identification technology to protect content value and copyright, Vobile was awarded an Emmy at the 69th annual Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards. Vobile was also named a Deloitte technology fast leader in 2021 for its significant business growth and technology innovation. Wang earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida in 1993 and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Zhejiang University in 1991. He serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board and West Coast Advisory Board for the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at UF and is an elected director of the UF Foundation National Board.

John Atanasoff (1903–1995)

John Vincent Atanasoff (BSEE ‘25) was an American polymath whose ground-breaking work in engineering, physics, mathematics, and computer science earned him the esteemed title of “the father of the modern computer.” Born in October 1903, Atanasoff graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Engineering in 1925 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. His exceptional contributions were recognized with an honorary Doctor of Science degree from UF in 1974. Atanasoff’s most renowned invention, the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC), developed with graduate student Clifford Berry, laid the groundwork for modern digital computers. Capable of solving multiple equations simultaneously, the ABC was a revolutionary achievement in computing history. Despite facing a patent dispute with John Mauchly over the invention of the electronic digital computer, Atanasoff’s legacy endures as a pioneer in technological innovation. His dedication extended beyond computing, as evidenced by his work with the Armed and Naval forces and the founding of the Ordnance Engineering Corporation. Atanasoff’s inventive journey continued until his passing in June 1995, leaving an indelible mark on the digital age that followed.

Don Estridge (1937–1985)

Don Estridge (BSEE ‘59) was a pioneering American computer engineer whose innovative contributions earned him the title of the “Father of the IBM PC.” Born in Jacksonville, Florida in June 1937, Estridge graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Engineering in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. With a career spanning the United States Army, IBM, and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Estridge’s expertise propelled him to the forefront of personal computing. In 1980, he took the helm of IBM Entry Level Systems, where he envisioned a cost-effective personal computer to rival competitors like Apple Computer and Commodore International. Under his leadership, the original IBM Personal Computer (PC) was born, revolutionizing the industry. Notably, Estridge’s decision to open the specifications of the IBM PC fostered a flourishing aftermarket industry and propelled personal computer sales. His visionary leadership earned him rapid promotions within IBM, culminating in his appointment as IBM Vice President, Manufacturing, by 1984. Despite declining a lucrative offer from Steve Jobs to join Apple Computer, Estridge’s promising trajectory was tragically cut short in the crash of Delta Air Lines Flight 191 in 1985. Nonetheless, his enduring legacy as a pioneer in personal computing and his pivotal role in shaping the computer industry continue to be celebrated.