Who We Are: Duy-Loan T. Le

Duy -Loan T. Le came to America in 1975 with no father and a family of 9, most women and children. In 1976, she received her first recognition in the US as ‘Citizen of the Month’ from Kiwanis International Club. She graduated as Valedictorian from Alief Hastings High School at 16 in 1979 and three years later received her BSEE from University of Texas with High Honor. Duy-Loan obtained her MBA from University of Houston. In 1981, Houston Chronicle featured her as ‘Scholastic Wonder’, the University of Texas named her ‘Scholarship Winner Out Of The Ordinary’, and Duy-Loan received commendation from The Office of The Ambassador of The Royal Netherlands for her scholastic achievement and her humanitarian effort in fund raising to aid the Vietnamese refugees.

In 1982, Duy-Loan started as a memory design engineer at the age of 19 with Texas Instruments (TI), a world wide company on the list of Fortune 500 and a leader in Digital Signal Processor and Analog. Duy-Loan managed world wide project teams and was responsible for bringing up TI memory devices, a multi-billion-product line, with joint venture partners on 3 continents for the first time in TI’s history. She is currently the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) Advanced Technology Ramp Manager, managing development projects using cutting edge technology at Texas Instruments.

In 2002, Duy-Loan became the first Asian and the first woman to get elected TI Senior Fellow in Texas Instruments. 75 years of history, joining 4 other men who hold this prestigious title TI world wide, and today she remains the only woman to hold this title. Duy-Loan holds 22 patents with 8 pending applications. She has been featured in IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) SPECTRUM, Asian Enterprise trade journals, a book titled "The Pride of Vietnamese", and numerous local and international newspapers. Duy-Loan serves on the Board of National Instruments, a NASDAQ company headquartered in Austin since 2002 and she remains the only woman on this Board. Duy-Loan is a registered Professional Engineer (PE).

Duy-Loan has received many awards over the years. Some of her favorites include:

• Women In Technology International (WITI) Hall of Fame
• Women on the Move with Congressional recognition for civic leadership from Texas Executive Women & Houston Chronicle
• Texas Salutes Duy-Loan for Making History Today from TV-Channel 11 as part of Asian-Pacific Heritage month
• Houston’s Leader from Center of Future for Houston & JPMorgan Chase
• National Technologist Of The Year from Women of Color TimesPeople by EETimes
• Outstanding Young Engineering Graduate Award from University of Texas-College of Engineering
• Outstanding Young Texas Executive Award from The University of Texas-Texas Executives
• Asian American Engineer of The Year Who’s Who In The World
• Golden Torch Award from Vietnamese American National Gala
• Science Spectrum Trail Blazer
• United States Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Civic Leadership
• California Senate Recognition for Outstanding Civic Leadership

Duy-Loan’s service to the community includes:

• Director of Mona Foundation, promoting education for children and supporting social economic development in 10 countries
• Founding member & Advisory Board Director for Sunflower Mission, bringing educational assistance to children in Vietnam
• Founding member & Honorary Board Director for Science National Honor Society, promoting math and science at high schools
• Director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund National Board (APIASF)
• College of Engineering Foundation Advisory Council (EFAC) for The University of Texas College of Engineering
• University of Texas (UT) Commission 125 (by President invitation): shaping UT.s future for the next 25 years
• Houston Independent School District (HISD) Asian Strategic Partnership Advisory Board

Duy-Loan Le has been married to her husband Tuan N. Dao for 24 years. She has two boys, Quy-Dan 13 and Quy-Don 10. She enjoys deep sea fishing, reading, movies, classical music, painting, and playing poker. Duy-Loan also holds a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do and has won several medals and trophies in the State of Texas.