E. Floyd Kvamme
Encyclopedia
Earl Floyd Kvamme is an American engineer, venture capitalist, and government advisor.
graduating from Jefferson High School
of Daly City
in 1955. He earned a BS
in Electrical Engineering
from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1959 and an MS
in Semiconductor
Materials Science and Engineering from Syracuse University
in 1962.
headquarters in Silicon Valley
. In 1982, Kvamme became Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Apple Computer
. While at Apple, he was instrumental in deciding to air the 1984
advertisement. He has been a director (and later Partner Emeritus) at venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers
since March 1984. In the corporate world he has served on the boards
of Brio Technology
, Gemfire, Harmonic, National Semiconductor
, Photon Dynamics, Power Integrations, and Silicon Genesis.
In the public realm, he is best known for his appointment by President George W. Bush
to be Co-Chairman of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
(PCAST) in 2001; Kvamme has also advised every president since Ronald Reagan. Kvamme previously served as Chairman of advocacy group Empower America. He serves on the board of the National Venture Capital Association
. In 1998, Kvamme served as Chairman of the California State Electronic Commerce Advisory Council for Governor Pete Wilson's
administration.
Kvamme came out in support of Rudy Giuliani
in his 2008 US Presidential Campaign
. In 2012, Kvamme supported Rick Perry
in his US Presidential Campaign
, and was a member of his California finance team.
Early life
The son of Norwegian immigrant parents, Kvamme grew up in Northern CaliforniaNorthern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
graduating from Jefferson High School
Jefferson High School (Daly City, California)
For schools with a similar name, see Jefferson High School .Jefferson High School is an American public high school in Daly City, California and is the first school in the Jefferson Union High School District...
of Daly City
Daly City, California
Daly City is the largest city in San Mateo County, California, United States, with a 2010 population of 101,123. Located immediately south of San Francisco, it is named in honor of businessman and landowner John Daly.-History:...
in 1955. He earned a BS
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1959 and an MS
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Semiconductor
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
Materials Science and Engineering from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1962.
Career
In 1967, Kvamme was one of the original members of a team to establish new National SemiconductorNational Semiconductor
National Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer, that specialized in analog devices and subsystems,formerly headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The products of National Semiconductor included power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers,...
headquarters in Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
. In 1982, Kvamme became Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
. While at Apple, he was instrumental in deciding to air the 1984
1984 (television commercial)
"1984" is an American television commercial which introduced the Apple Macintosh personal computer for the first time. It was conceived by Steve Hayden, Brent Thomas and Lee Clow at Chiat/Day, Venice, produced by New York production company Fairbanks Films, and directed by Ridley Scott. Anya Major...
advertisement. He has been a director (and later Partner Emeritus) at venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers
Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers ' is a world-leading venture capital firm located on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park in Silicon Valley. The Wall Street Journal has called it one of the "largest and most established" venture capital firms in the world...
since March 1984. In the corporate world he has served on the boards
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Brio Technology
Brio Technology
Brio Technology was a San Francisco Bay area software company cofounded in 1984 by Yorgen Edholm and Katherine Glassey. The company is best known for their business intelligence software systems, starting with DataPivot on the Apple Macintosh. Brio Software was acquired by Hyperion in 2003...
, Gemfire, Harmonic, National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer, that specialized in analog devices and subsystems,formerly headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The products of National Semiconductor included power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers,...
, Photon Dynamics, Power Integrations, and Silicon Genesis.
In the public realm, he is best known for his appointment by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to be Co-Chairman of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
PCAST
The United States President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology is a council, chartered in each administration with a broad mandate to advise the President on science and technology. The current PCAST was established by on September 30, 2001, by President George W...
(PCAST) in 2001; Kvamme has also advised every president since Ronald Reagan. Kvamme previously served as Chairman of advocacy group Empower America. He serves on the board of the National Venture Capital Association
National Venture Capital Association
The National Venture Capital Association is the leading trade association representing the venture capital industry in the U.S. The NVCA represents the venture industry in public policy debates in Washington, DC, and promotes high professional standards, professional development, and interaction...
. In 1998, Kvamme served as Chairman of the California State Electronic Commerce Advisory Council for Governor Pete Wilson's
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
administration.
Kvamme came out in support of Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
in his 2008 US Presidential Campaign
Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign, 2008
Rudy Giuliani’s 2008 presidential campaign began following the formation of the Draft Giuliani movement in October 2005. The next year, Giuliani opened an exploratory committee and formally announced in February 2007 that he was actively seeking the presidential nomination of the Republican...
. In 2012, Kvamme supported Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
in his US Presidential Campaign
Rick Perry presidential campaign, 2012
Rick Perry, the four-term Governor of Texas, announced via a spokesman on August 11, 2011, that he will be running for the 2012 Republican Party nomination for president of the United States...
, and was a member of his California finance team.