2018 Alumni Achievement (Merit) Award
After graduation, William D. Strecker (ENG 1966, 1967, 1971) had a brief tenure with RCA Laboratories, and then spent nearly 30 years with Digital Equipment Corporation, where he worked in many areas of computing, including processors, semiconductors, software, networking, and storage. Notably, Strecker led the design of the VAX computer architecture, the basis of the most influential and successful super minicomputer systems of the era.
He later served in leadership positions at Compaq Computer Corporation and Flagship Ventures. Now retired, Strecker’s last position was with In-Q-Tel, a nonprofit that identifies and works with technology startups in support of U.S. intelligence agencies.
During his career, Strecker amassed 16 patents in computer architecture and design. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a fellow of the Association of Computer Machinery and recipient of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers’ W. Wallace McDowell Award, given for outstanding contributions in the field of computing.