MANAGEMENT TEAM
GREGORY J. GALVIN, PH.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
- Dr. Galvin founded Kionix in 1993 to commercialize a novel micromechanical technology pioneered by researchers at Cornell University. From 1993 to 2000, Kionix grew from its two founders to over 40 employees and developed products in inertial sensors, microfluidics, data storage, micro-relays, and micro-optics. Late in 2000, Kionix was acquired for its optical switching technology by Calient Networks of San Jose, CA and renamed Calient Optical Components. Just prior to the acquisition, a new company was spun out to the then Kionix shareholders to pursue inertial sensor, microfluidics, and data storage markets. This company regained the Kionix name post acquisition. From the acquisition until June 2002, Dr. Galvin served as President and CEO of Calient Optical Components and on the boards of both Calient Networks and the new Kionix. In July 2002, he returned full time to Kionix as President and CEO, and advanced the Company to its 2009 acquisition as a wholly-owned subsidiary by Rohm Co., Ltd. of Japan. In addition to continuing service as Kionix’s President and CEO, Dr. Galvin also serves as Chairman of Rheonix, Inc., a corporate entity established in December 2008 to commercialize a unique polymer chip microfluidic technology developed by Kionix scientists.
- Dr. Galvin has a B.S. from the California Institute of Technology in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and M.B.A. from Cornell University. Dr. Galvin served for over five years as the Deputy Director of the Cornell Nanofabrication Facility (CNF) in which the Cornell micromechanical research was conducted. Prior to founding Kionix, he was employed by Cornell University as Director of Corporate Research Relations, focusing on transferring technology from the university to industry.
- Dr. Galvin's graduate research was in the areas of thermodynamics of silicon under ultrafast melting, ion beam analysis, and thin film technologies. He is a member of several scientific societies, has published over 20 technical papers, and holds 58 patents. Dr. Galvin is a founding member, and former chairman, of the Finger Lakes Entrepreneurs Forum. He is a member of the Cornell University Council, Advisory Council of the Cornell Engineering College, and serves as a Director of the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Tompkins County Area Development, Inc., the Kensa Group, the El Portal de Belén Foundation, and Ithaca’s Sciencenter. A leading authority on MEMS product innovation, Dr. Galvin is frequently invited to speak at meetings and conferences in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
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