Jeong H. Kim

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Jeong H. Kim moved with his family to Maryland at age 14. Arriving with limited resources and little English proficiency, he worked at a convenience store at night while attending high school during the day. He won a partial scholarship to study electrical engineering at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he developed an interest in computer science.

Having grown up near the Naval Academy in Annapolis, he had an affinity for the U.S. Navy, and after college he served seven years as a nuclear submarine officer. “I joined the Navy because, as an immigrant grateful for having thrived in the United States, I wanted to do something to repay the country that had done so much for me,” he wrote in Proceedings, the U.S. Naval Institute’s print magazine. “It imbued me with the pride and the confidence to stand up with my countrymen, fully comfortable with what I have become.”

Kim subsequently earned a PhD in reliability engineering from the University of Maryland, and eventually founded Yurie Systems, which manufactured devices that made it easier to send data and video over the internet. Lucent Technologies ultimately bought the company for $1.1 billion. He also cofounded Kiswe Mobile, served as president of Bell Labs, and taught engineering at the University of Maryland. Beyond his entrepreneurial work, Kim helped start Venture Philanthropy Partners, which supports low-income children and youth.

Inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 2004, Kim has received numerous awards, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Horatio Alger Award, and designation as a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French government. In 2023, Kim was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his work in broadband optical systems, data communications, and wireless technologies.

Published June 2026