Michael Krames and Mark Papermaster, alumni from the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest honors in the engineering field.

This year, NAE elected a total of 128 new members and 22 international members. Election to the academy is among the highest professional distinctions bestowed upon an engineer. Membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research and practice, including pioneering new and developing fields of technology and making significant advancements in the engineering field and profession.

“Congratulations to the courageous engineers chosen for membership in the National Academy of Engineering,” said Roger Bonnecaze, dean of the Cockrell School. “Their innovations have impacted our daily lives in many ways, including faster and more efficient technology, safer and more reliable energy, protection from natural hazards and more.”

Michael Krames (B.S. electrical and computer engineering) is being honored “for contributions to high-brightness, visible-spectrum light-emitting diodes” (LED). A member of the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni, Krames discovered innovations in LEDs that impact day-to-day lives, including the first LED automotive headlights.  

Mark Papermaster (B.S. electrical and computer engineering) is chief technology officer and executive vice president of Technology and Engineering at AMD. NAE recognized him “for leadership in the design and production of complex integrated circuit processors.” Papermaster, a Distinguished Engineering Graduate of the Cockrell School, played a key role in AMD’s transformation into a world leader in semiconductors, re-engineering many of the company's processes that led to the creation of new architecture systems and advancements in CPUs and GPUs.