Chinese American Heroine: Heidi Shyu
July 16, 2009
Name in English: Heidi Shyu
Name in Chinese: 徐若冰
Name in Pinyin: Xú Ruòbīng
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Taiwan
Philanthropy: Yes
Profession(s): Electrical engineer, technology and research development leader
Education: B.S., Mathematics, University of New Brunswick; M.S., Mathematics, University of Toronto; M.S., Electrical Engineering, University of California-Los Angeles; E.E., Electrical Engineering, University of California-Los Angeles
Award(s): 2004, Chinese Institute of Engineers -USA (CIE-USA) Asian-American Engineer of the Year Award; 2007, Chinese-American Engineers and Scientists Association of Southern California (CESASC) Achievement Award; Raytheon’s Hero Award; Excellence in Technology Award; Hughes Fellowship; University of Toronto Fellowship; New Brunswick Post-Graduate Scholarship; Atlantic Provinces Inter-University Committee Scholarship; N. Myles Brown Science Award; University Special Undergraduate Scholarship
Contribution(s): Soon after the age of 10, Heidi Shyu, emigrated from her native Taiwan to the United States without knowing any words of English. In her own words she was a horrible student in Taiwan who hated rote learning and only learned to speak up, disagree, be noticed, and love school in America. Her affinity for math and science led her to pursue multiple degrees in mathematics and electrical engineering. She has worked for Raytheon Company for over 20 years and led a number of significant US Air Force projects including the Joint Strike Fighter and the development of other manned and unmanned aircraft systems. As Vice President of Corporate Technology and Research for Raytheon she is responsible for determining the direction of the company’s research efforts. At a time the US was facing two overseas wars, unprecedented terrorist threats, and the greatest increase in defense spending since the 1980s, Heidi Shyu was selected as Chair of the USAF Scientific Board in 2005. That a Chinese American woman was selected for such a position is a testament to her skills and the respect with which she is viewed by the US Government, the military, and her scientific peers.
In many of her interviews she cites a situation in 1997 when she managed a large team of mainly men charged with the impossible task of designing a lighter version of a 325-pound electronically scanned antenna to beat out a competitor’s design. Shyu lightened the mood with a challenge to design it to her weight. After much work and an endlessly available supply of food and treats offered by the engineers, the team delivered a model three months ahead of schedule weighing 112 pounds. “People can do extraordinary things that will exceed their expectations,” she said.
In 2007, Ms. Shyu wrote an article titled “America’s New Deficit: A Shortage of Technology Specialists” in which she called on American youth, especially women and minorities, to become engineers and scientists.
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