Min H. Kao

Dr. Min H. Kao

The name of the new Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Building on the University of Tennessee's campus is named after the co-founder of Garmin Corporation, Dr. Min H. Kao.

Dr. Min H. Kao graduated with his M.S. and Ph.D degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee. This UT Alumni donated $17.5 million to the College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee to construct the new EECS building. Dr. Kao's donation has been the largest private donation to UT.

Just like my fellow classmates and I in Senior Design, Dr. Kao also conjured up an idea and successfully created a design which became the foundation of the original Garmin product line. In the engineering world, design is key in how your idea and product should be developed. Dr. Min Kao is a great role model for all students.

Dr. Kao is credited with the breakthrough design and engineering of the GPS software technology that formed the foundation of the original Garmin product line. Today he directs the business development initiatives and strategic planning for all of Garmin worldwide.