News: Microelectronics
24 February 2021
Transphorm appoints defense procurement expert to board
Transphorm Inc of Goleta, near Santa Barbara, CA, USA — which designs and manufactures JEDEC- and AEC-Q101-qualified 650V and 900V gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistors (FETs) for high-voltage power conversion applications — has appointed Katharina McFarland to its board of directors.
With over 30 years of government service, McFarland is recognized as a leading subject-matter expert on government acquisition, program management and procurement, says Transphorm. She is currently the president of consulting services firm Blue Oryx Inc. Previously, McFarland served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, Logistics & Technology as the Army’s Service Acquisition Executive and Chief Science Advisor. Prior to her political appointments, she held roles as president of the Defense Acquisition University and director for acquisition at the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA). She currently serves as a director on the board of Science Applications International Corp, which had acquired Engility Holdings Inc, where she previously served as a director.
McFarland holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Queen’s University, a master’s degree in program management from the Program Management Institute, and an honorary doctoral degree in engineering from Cranfield University.
“Katharina is a highly respected expert in her field, and we are pleased to welcome her as a new independent director,” comments Transphorm’s CEO Mario Rivas. "Her unique and extensive experience in government service and procurement brings a new and informed perspective, which is highly relevant to our current and prospective GaN business with the DoD [US Department of Defense] and other government agencies, while also serving to expand the depth and expertise of our board,” he adds. “This appointment also demonstrates our commitment to board diversification in order to further strengthen the breadth, talent and background of our directors.”
