Dr. Jeong Kim honored with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation

(Photo by Ryan K. Morris/The National Science & Technology Medals Foundation)

Jeong H. Kim Ph.D. '91 (left) receives the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Joe Biden at a White House ceremony on Oct. 23, the nation’s highest award for technological achievement.

President Joe Biden awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the nation’s highest award for technological achievement, to Dr. Jeong H. Kim who earned the nation’s first doctorate in Reliability Engineering in 1990 under the supervision of Prof. Ali Mosleh while he was on the engineering faculty of the University of Maryland. The White House honored the entrepreneur among 11 American innovators whose “vision, intellect, creativity, and determination have strengthened America’s economy and improved our quality of life.” Dr. Kim was recognized for his advances in broadband optical systems, data communications and wireless technologies that have made communication faster and clearer, including improvements in battlefield communications that strengthen national security. Dr. Kim is chairman and co-founder of Kiswe Mobile, an interactive mobile video company. He previously founded Yurie Systems, eventually selling it for $1.1 billion to Lucent Technologies, where he stayed another 15 years, including as president of Bell Laboratories. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has served on boards including Samsung Electronics and the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Dr. Kim was recognized by the U.S. Pan-Asian American Chamber as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Asian Americans in Business, and in 2014 received the Legion of Honor from the French government for his service in global technology research.