Craford
began his professional career as a research physicist
at Monsanto Chemical Company. He advanced to the level
of Technical Director of the Electronics Division,
before joining the Hewlett-Packard Company in 1979.
He is currently the Chief Technology Officer at Philips
Lumileds Lighting Company.
Craford’s research has been mainly focused on
the development of visible LED’s using a variety
of compound semiconductor materials. He first became
known for the development of nitrogen-doped GaAsP technology
in the early 1970’s, which became and remains
one of the dominant commercial LED technologies. At
Hewlett-Packard, Craford’s group pioneered the
development of AlInGaP LEDs, and has developed AlGaAs
and InGaN products.
Craford is a fellow of the IEEE and a member of the
National Academy of Engineering. He has also received
the IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Award, the Holonyak Award
of the Optical Society of America, the Welker Award
of the International Symposium on Compound Semiconductors,
the Material Research Society Medal, an IEEE Third Millenium
Medal, the Electronics Division Award of the Electrochemical
Society, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the
University of Illinois College of Engineering.
In 2002, Craford received the National Medal of Technology
from the President of the United States in recognition
of Craford's contributions to LED technology. |