Samueli to Receive 2021 IEEE Founder’s Medal
Dec. 3, 2020 - The IEEE has selected Henry Samueli as the 2021 recipient of its Founders Medal in recognition of his leadership in research, development and commercialization of broadband communication and networking technology with global impact.
Samueli, chair of the board of Broadcom Inc. and UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering benefactor, is a UCI distinguished adjunct professor in electrical engineering and computer science and a member of the Engineering Dean’s Leadership Council.
The IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization for electrical and electronics engineers, with nearly 420,000 members in more than 160 countries around the world. The medal, one of the organization’s highest honors, is given annually to an individual or group who demonstrates outstanding contributions in the leadership, planning and administration of affairs of great value to the electrical and electronics engineering profession.
“I am very honored by this wonderful recognition from the IEEE,” said Samueli. “The prior recipients of the Founders Medal are a Who’s Who of technology industry pioneers so I am deeply humbled to be included in such an esteemed group of entrepreneurs.”
Samueli, who earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from UCLA, began his career at TRW, Inc., where he was responsible for the development of military broadband communications systems. In 1991, while teaching at UCLA, he co-founded Broadcom Corp. with one of his Ph.D. students, Henry Nicholas. The company became a global leader in providing semiconductor technologies for wired and wireless communications.
Samueli’s pioneering advances in the development and commercialization of analog and mixed signal circuits for modern communication systems led to the explosive growth of the consumer broadband industry. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and a fellow of IEEE, the National Academy of Inventors and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
An Orange County resident, Samueli is also a prominent philanthropist and owner of the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks. The engineering schools at both UCI and UCLA are named in Samueli’s honor, commemorating his landmark gifts in 1999. In 2017, Henry and his wife, Susan, made a $200 million gift to name the UCI College of Health Sciences and launch a major integrative health initiative.
“For many years, UCI has been on the receiving end of Henry’s generosity in sharing his leadership, knowledge, business acumen and financial support,” said Michael Green, interim Stacey Nicholas Dean of Engineering. “On behalf of the UCI Samueli School of Engineering, I congratulate Henry on this well-deserved honor.”
– Lori Brandt
