Ocampo Family Establishes $100 Million Fund to Advance University Research in RF, Microwave and Photonics Engineering

John Ocampo’s Legacy Continues with Donations to Support Industry Innovation, Academic Excellence, and the Next Generation of Semiconductor Pioneers

Susan Ocampo, co-founder of GaAs Labs LLC, today announced the establishment of a $100 million fund, the John L. Ocampo Endowment Fund, to support Radio Frequency (RF), microwave and photonics engineering research at leading academic institutions. This fund honors the visionary spirit of the late John Ocampo, a pioneer in the compound semiconductor industry whose work was dedicated to advancing high speed communications across cellular, satellite, aerospace & defense and datacenter applications. 

The fund aims to bridge the gap between theoretical research and commercial application, ensuring that the next generation of engineers has the skills and resources to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges in the design and manufacturing of semiconductor solutions. 

Empowering Academic Excellence

Donations from the fund are intended to be made annually to various universities to support research by professors and students specializing in RF/Microwave, Photonics, and Semiconductor Engineering. In its inaugural year, research programs across seven professors at the following universities have been awarded grants: 

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Santa Clara University
• University College Cork/Tyndall National Institute (Ireland), 
• University of California, Davis
• University of Colorado Boulder

"John believed that the future of technology depended on the brilliant minds in our universities," said the Ocampo family. "By establishing this fund, we are not just honoring his achievements, but investing in the same spirit of curiosity and technical excellence that defined his life's work."

A Legacy of Impact

John Ocampo was widely respected as an engineer and entrepreneur, known for his unique ability to identify untapped potential in RF/Microwave technologies and scale them into global successes. As co-founder of Sirenza Microdevices and GaAsLabs which acquired MACOM Technology Solutions in 2009, John's influence in shaping the compound semiconductor industry landscape has been both deep and lasting.

This $100 million commitment represents one of the largest private funds ever established to support RF/Microwave and Photonics engineering education. It signals a deep belief in the continued importance of semiconductor innovation and the vital role of engineering education in maintaining technological progress.