Career Timeline of Gordon Moore: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Gordon Moore, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Gordon Moore was an American businessman, engineer, and co-founder of Intel. He is best known for Moore's Law, which predicted that the number of transistors on a microchip would double approximately every two years, while the cost would be halved. This observation has proven largely accurate and has guided the semiconductor industry for decades, driving rapid advancements in computing power and technology. Moore's Law became a guiding principle for Intel and the broader tech industry, influencing product development, investment strategies, and technological progress. His work has been crucial in the digital revolution.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1953: Conducted Postdoctoral Research

From 1953 to 1956, Moore conducted postdoctoral research at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University.

1956: Completed Postdoctoral Research

In 1956, Moore completed his postdoctoral research at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University.

April 19, 1965: Publication of Moore's Law Prediction

On April 19, 1965, Moore's observation regarding the doubling of components in dense integrated circuits was published in Electronics Magazine, predicting this trend would continue for at least ten years.

July 1968: Founded NM Electronics (Intel)

In July 1968, Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore founded NM Electronics, which was later renamed Intel Corporation.

1975: Became President of Intel

In 1975, Moore became the President of Intel Corporation, after serving as executive vice president.

1975: Moore Revised His Forecast

In 1975, Moore revised his forecast to state that the number of transistors on a microchip would double approximately every two years instead of every year.

1976: Elected to National Academy of Engineering

In 1976, Moore was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to semiconductor devices.

April 1979: Became Chairman and CEO of Intel

In April 1979, Moore became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Intel Corporation.

1983: Joined Caltech's Board of Trustees

In 1983, Moore became a member of the California Institute of Technology's (Caltech) Board of Trustees.

April 1987: Became Chairman of Intel

In April 1987, Moore stepped down as CEO of Intel and became Chairman.

1990: Received National Medal of Technology and Innovation

In 1990, Moore was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President George H. W. Bush for his leadership in microelectronics.

1993: Chaired Caltech's Board of Trustees

In 1993, Moore became the chairman of the California Institute of Technology's (Caltech) Board of Trustees.

1997: Named Chairman Emeritus of Intel

In 1997, Moore was named Chairman Emeritus of Intel Corporation.

1998: Inducted as a Fellow of the Computer History Museum

In 1998, Moore was inducted as a Fellow of the Computer History Museum for his early work in semiconductor device design and production.

2000: Established the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

In 2000, Gordon Moore and his wife, Betty, established the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation with a gift worth about $5 billion, focusing on environmental conservation, science, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

2000: Stepped down as chair of Caltech's Board of Trustees

In 2000, Moore stepped down as chairman of the California Institute of Technology's (Caltech) Board of Trustees.

2001: Donated $600 Million to Caltech

In 2001, Moore and his wife donated $600 million to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the largest gift ever to an institution of higher education at that time.

December 2007: Donated to Thirty Meter Telescope

In December 2007, Moore and his wife donated $200 million to Caltech and the University of California for the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).

2007: Pledged Funds for Nursing School

In 2007, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation pledged $100 million over 11 years to establish a nursing school at the University of California, Davis.