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David PackardEngineer, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard
Date of Birth: 07.09.1912
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of David Packard
- Career at General Electric
- Co-founding Hewlett-Packard
- Leadership at Hewlett-Packard
- Philanthropic Activities
- Other Contributions and Honors
Biography of David Packard
Early Life and EducationDavid Packard, an engineer and one of the founders of Hewlett-Packard Company, was born on September 7, 1912, in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. He attended Stanford University in Stanford, California, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1934 and a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1939.
Career at General Electric
From 1936 to 1938, Packard worked as an engineer at General Electric Co in Schenectady, New York, USA.
Co-founding Hewlett-Packard
In 1938, Packard returned to Palo Alto and, the following year, co-founded a joint company with his friend and former classmate William Hewlett, which is now known as Hewlett-Packard. Their first product was a resistive-capacitive audio oscillator based on Hewlett's development during their schooling. The company started in a small garage in Palo Alto with an initial capital of $538.
Leadership at Hewlett-Packard
Packard remained with the company as a partner from its foundation in 1939 until its merger in 1947. In 1947, he became the president and held that position until 1964 when he was elected Chairman of the Board and CEO. Packard left the company in 1969 and served as the Deputy Secretary of Defense in the first Nixon administration. He held this position for almost three years and resigned in 1971. Upon his return to California, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Hewlett-Packard Company.
Philanthropic Activities
Until his death, Packard served as the President and Chairman of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation since its establishment in 1964. The Foundation supports universities, national institutes, public groups, youth organizations, family planning centers, and hospitals that rely on private funding and voluntary contributions. Packard also played a significant role in the creation of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with the Packard family investing $55 million in the philanthropic project. He served as the Chairman of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation and the President of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
Other Contributions and Honors
Packard served as a trustee of the Herbert Hoover Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, and the Hoover Institution. He was the Vice Chairman of the California Nature Conservancy Committee in 1983 and from 1983 to 1989, he served Wolf Trap Foundation, Vienna, Va., an organization dedicated to performing arts (drama, music, dance, etc.). In 1985, Packard was appointed by former President Reagan to Chair the Sober Committee at the Department of Defense. He was also a member of the Trilateral Commission from 1973 to 1981. From 1975 to 1982, he served on the Science and Technology Committee of the American-Soviet Trade and Economic Council. He was the Chairman of the U.S.-Japan Advisory Committee from 1983 to 1985. Additionally, he was a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology from 1990 to 1992.
Packard received honorary degrees from the University of Colorado (Doctor of Science), University of California and Catholic University (Doctor of Laws), and the University of Notre Dame (Doctor of Engineering).
Packard retired as Chairman of the Board of Hewlett-Packard Company in September 1993 and was appointed Chairman Emeritus. He held this position until his death on March 26, 1996.
