Silicon Valley Engineering
Hall of Fame for 1991

Dr. Dale L. Compton has been a pioneer in planetary atmosphere entry, in hypersonic aerodynamics and physics of high-temperature gases, and in earth science. Applications of his research have contributed to the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Jupiter atmospheric probe programs. His management of what is believed to be the most capable aeronautics research institution in existence has produced important progress in United States aeronautics and space capabilities.

Dr. Compton has served as Director of the NASA Ames Research Center, governor of the National Space Club, and is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics and both the Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi engineering societies. He is a Distinguished Senior Executive within the NASA Senior Executive Service, and was a 1974-1975 Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts’ Institute of Technology. He has guided the formulation of a new university program in Space Technology, aimed at rebuilding the Nation’s technology base for new space missions and increasing the pool of engineers and scientists.

Dr. Compton is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He has received the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership and was named the 1983-1984 Outstanding Engineer in the Field of Astronautics by the San Francisco Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Dr. Compton received the Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Aeronautics, all from Stanford University.

Dr. William R. Hewlett

William R. Hewlett is co-founder, former Chief Executive Officer, and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hewlett-Packard Company. His pioneering work in the design and development of electronics instrumentation, beginning with the audio oscillator, led to the formation of the multi-national corporation which bears his name. This achievement symbolizes the engineering excellence and entrepreneurism of the Silicon Valley.

Dr. Hewlett is a past Director and President of the Institute of Radio Engineers, now known as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He assisted in the development of the Western Electronics Manufacturers Association, now the American Electronics Association, and is an honorary trustee of the California Academy of Sciences. Dr. Hewlett’s long service to the community includes positions of leadership with Stanford Medical Center, the Kaiser Foundation Hospital, and the Drug Abuse Council in Washington D.C.. He is a Director of the Monterey flay Aquarium Research Institute and is Chairman of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Dr. Hewlett is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences, and is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He was awarded the Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, the Master of Electrical Engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and honorary doctorates from several distinguished universities.

Dr. David Packard

David Packard is co-founder, past President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hewlett-Packard Company. His pioneering work in the design and development of electronics instrumentation, beginning with the audio oscillator, led to the formation of the multi-national corporation which hears his name. This achievement symbolizes the engineering excellence and entrepreneurism of the Silicon Valley.

Dr. Packard has served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, as Chairman of the President’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management, and as a member of the White House Science Council. He is co-founder and past chairman of the American Electronics Association and has served on the boards of several major corporations. Dr. Packard has also served in positions of leadership with Stanford University, the Stanford Mid-Peninsula Urban Coalition, the Committee for Economic Development, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the Herbert Hoover Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute, and The Nature Conservancy. He is Chairman of the David and Lucille Packard Foundation.

Dr. Packard is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, an honorary lifetime member of the Instrument Society of America, and a Fellow of both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was awarded the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degrees from Stanford University, and honorary doctorates from several distinguished universities.

Ms. Esther Williams

Esther Williams was a Reliability Engineering Specialist with Lockheed Missiles and Space Company for over thirty years, and is an internationally recognized expert in aerospace materials and failure analysis. Her visionary work spans more than three decades, beginning with her direction of the Failure Analysis Team for the Lockheed Skunk Works. She was the first person to recommend the use of titanium in aircraft and the first to apply material analysis to microelectronic devices. Her research has defined and extended the use of beryllium, molybdenum, titanium, and various other materials in both aircraft and spacecraft systems.

Ms. Williams is a founder of both the Los Angeles and Santa Clara Valley Sections of the Society of Women Engineers, serving as President, Regional Director, and National Convention Chair. Her community work with the Girl Scouts gained her the 1990 Juliette Gordon Low Award from the Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County. She has also furthered the future of her profession by her efforts in establishing the Santa Clara Valley Society of Women Engineers Scholarship Program.

Ms. Williams is the recipient of the 1972 and 1983 Society of Manufacturing Engineers Professional Achievement Awards and the 1987 Washington State University Achievement Award. She is a 1981 Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers. Ms. Williams attended Washington State University and received the Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Metallurgy from University of California at Berkeley