Ken Oshman

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Ken Oshman

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Malin Kenneth Oshman

| birth_date = {{birth date |1940|07|09}}

| birth_place = Kansas City, Missouri, US

| death_date = {{death date and age |2011|08|06|1940|07|09}}

| death_place = Palo Alto, California, US

| fields = Electrical engineering

| workplaces =

| patrons =

| education = Rice, BA 1962
Rice, BS 1963

Stanford, MS EE (1965)
Stanford, PhD EE (1968)

| alma_mater =

| thesis_title = Studies of Optical Frequency Parametric Oscillation

| doctoral_advisor = Steve Harris

| academic_advisors =

| known_for = Co-founder of ROLM
CEO of Echelon

| awards = National Academy of Engineering (1982)

| spouse = {{marriage|Barbara (née Daily) Oshman|1962}}

}}

Malin Kenneth Oshman (July 9, 1940 – August 6, 2011) was an American entrepreneur,electrical engineer, and Silicon Valley pioneer, best known for co-founding ROLM Corporation and as CEO of Echelon Corporation. Oshman and three former classmates from Rice University founded ROLM,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/technology/m-kenneth-oshman-who-brought-fun-to-silicon-valley-dies-at-71.html |title=M. Kenneth Oshman, Who Brought Fun to Silicon Valley, Dies at 71 |newspaper=New York Times |date=August 10, 2011|first=John|last=Markoff}}{{subscription required}} growing it into a Fortune 500 company.{{cite web|accessdate=March 13, 2025|url=https://eceweb.rice.edu/news/pioneers-innovation-fireside-chat|title=Pioneers of Innovation: A Fireside Chat: Meet the ECE alumni who built a Fortune 500 Company and the engine of Silicon Valley|date=Sep 29, 2022|publisher=Rice Engineering and Computing, Rice University}} After he left ROLM, became chief executive officer of Echelon Corporation.{{cite news |url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/62527/ken-oshman-benefactor-of-oshman-family-jcc-dies-at-71/ |title=Ken Oshman, benefactor of Oshman Family JCC, dies at 71 |date=August 11, 2011 |work=Jewish News Weekly }}

Oshman’s work in telecommunications and control networking contributed to the development of digital telephone switching systems and technologies used in the smart grid.

In addition to his business endeavors, Oshman was involved in various philanthropic and leadership roles, contributing to educational and community initiatives. He served on boards and advisory councils for organizations such as Stanford University, Rice University, and several technology companies.

Early life and education

Malin Kenneth Oshman was born on July 9, 1940, in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Rosenberg, Texas, near Houston. He attended St. Mark's School of Texas, a private college-preparatory school for boys, and then went on to attend Rice University in Houston, Texas. At Rice, he earned a B.A.degree, summa cum laude in 1962, and a B.S. in electrical engineering in 1963. He went on to graduate school, at Stanford University in California, where he earned a master's degree (1965) and Ph.D (1968) in electrical engineering.

Career

After completing his studies, Oshman worked for several years as an engineer at Philco Corporation, an American company that specialized in electronics and defense systems. In 1969, he co-founded ROLM Corporation with three of his former classmates from Rice University — Gene Richeson, Walter Loewenstern, and Robert Maxfield.{{cite web|accessdate=March 5, 2025

|url=https://stanfordmag.org/contents/telecom-leader|work=Stanford Magazine |first=Tracy |last=Seipel

|title=Farewells:Telecom Leader Ken Oshman |date=November–December 2011}} The company initially developed rugged military computers, but later expanded into telecommunications equipment.

In 1984, ROLM was acquired by IBM for $1.8 billion.

After leaving ROLM, in 1988, Oshman became the CEO of Echelon Corporation, a company that specialized in creating energy-efficient technologies for homes and buildings. Under his leadership, Echelon became involved with the smart grid industry, developing technologies that helped to improve the efficiency and reliability of energy systems.

Philanthropy and community involvement

Oshman was an advocate for science education and worked to promote the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education for young people. In 2001, he donated $35 million to Rice University, which led to the creation of the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen, a state-of-the-art facility for engineering students to design and build prototypes.

Oshman also supported the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he established the Oshman Family Professorship in Management, and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, where he served on the board of directors. He was also a major donor to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and supported a number of other arts organizations.

Death

Oshman died on August 6, 2011, at the age of 71.

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web|accessdate=March 5, 2025

|url=https://www.nae.edu/190072/M-KENNETH-OSHMAN-19402011|publisher=National Academy of Engineering

|title=M. Kenneth Oshman 1940–2011 |author=Maxfield, Bob|author-link=Robert Maxfield}}

{{cite news

|title=Obituary: M. Kenneth Oshman (July 9, 1940 - August 6, 2011)

|work=San Jose Mercury News & San Mateo County Times|date= August 9, 2011}}

{{cite news|accessdate=March 13, 2025

|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/12/04/high-tech-venture-has-big-names/

|title=High-Tech Venture has big names |date=December 4, 1988 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}