Donald Packwood:  

After spending 13 years in college earning a Ph.D. in Solid State Physics, I worked for the former McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company in St. Louis, Mo; National Semiconductor Corp. in Santa Clara, CA; and Hewlett Packard, Inc. in Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, CA and Fort Collins, CO. Except for my stint at McDonnell Douglas where I did nothing of value, I spent my career inventing processes for making computer and cell phone chips. Some of my inventions received patents, and others were too weird and proprietary to disclose. I also authored many technical articles and served on the BOD and chaired several committees on one of my technical societies, the AVS. My total career spanned 26 years. I thought that a 2:1 ratio of career to education seemed about right. Since my retirement in early 1998, I have tried to give back. I am currently a founder, past president and member of a group of distinguished physics alumni at the University of MO who support the Physics Department and its students. I am also a member of the MU College of A&S Strategic Development Board helping the Dean in his efforts to clone the Physics Alumni Support group in his other departments. I have received an honorary Professional Degree of P...Expand for more