Wolfspeed co-founder John Palmour elected to National Academy of Engineering

DURHAM – The co-founder and chief technology officer of Wolfspeed, Dr. John Palmour, was elected as a member to the National Academy of Engineering earlier this month.

Dr. John Palmour. Headshot from NCSU website.

Palmour, who along with other graduate students from North Carolina State University founded the company as Cree in 1987, has also been named to the North Carolina State University’s Materials Science and Engineering Hall of Fame.

According to a company statement, Palmour has authored a total of 386 scientific publications. Palmour holds 81 U.S. patents in the areas of processing and device designs for silicon carbide and gallium nitride electronic devices, according to the statement.

Wolfspeed is among the leading companies in the semiconductor industry that use silicon carbide, according to the company’s CEO Gregg Lowe, who spoke with WRAL TechWire earlier this month. Semiconductors remain in high demand due to disruptions to the global supply chain and increasing demand across multiple sectors.

Elected into membership in the National Academy of Engineering is one of the highest professional distinctions for an engineer, the company statement notes. “Honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research and practice, including pioneering of new and developing fields of technology and making major advancements in engineering,” the statement reads.

Palmour, along with 111 new members and 22 international members, will be formally inducted as members in the academy in October.