Gordon E. Moore
Gordon E. Moore is a well-known transformational leader in Silicon Valley and in philanthropic circles. Born in San Francisco, California in 1929, Gordon Moore proceeded to study at the exclusive UC–Berkeley. In the same year, he accomplished his B.S. Chemistry degree. After finishing in 1950, he went on to the California Institute of Technology for his Doctorate in Chemistry and Physics.
Gordon Moore became prominent in his industry in 1965 when he created a paper hypothesizing that transistor density will double regularly at an estimated two year interval. This has consistently proven itself true throughout the initial decades of semi-conductor technological advancement. For this remarkable contribution, he has been recognized as the 2008 recipient of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Medal of Honor.
Several years after, in July 1968, Gordon Moore established Intel Corporation as the pioneering manufacturer of memory products. In his long history with the company, he served as President, Chairman and Executive Vice President in different tenures. Under his visionary leadership, Intel historically produced the world’s first microprocessor and became the largest computer chip producer in the world.
The Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation was created in November 2000 with a generous $5 billion gift from the founding couple. Aiming to provide grants that promote scientific research, environment and biodiversity preservation, higher education, and key projects that address the local San Francisco Bay area issues, the foundation immediately became one of the nation’s largest. As its current President and CEO describes the organization’s mindset: “It’s a big foundation, and rather than just taking our funding and spring it around lots and lots of small initiatives, we can be strategically opportunistic when we see a chance to really make a difference.”
Among other things, he also leads Gilead Sciences Incorporated as its director, after joining its Board in January 1996. Gordon Moore has also served as Senior Trustee of the California Institute of Technology since 2001, after he served as its chairman for some time. In 1990, he was the recipient of The National Medal of Technology from then President George Bush. The year 2002 saw Gordon Moore become one of the first to be recognized as United Way Silicon Valley’s Philanthropist of the Year, and three years after, he became the recipient of The Marconi Society Lifetime Achievement Award. Profiled in Forbes World’s Richest People 2009 as the 246th, 79-year old Gordon rose from his previous year’s ranking of 288th.
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