Cornell University Board of Trustees Election

Gregory J. Galvin, MS ’82, Ph.D. ’84, MBA ’93

Greg Galvin  is President and Chief Executive Officer of Kionix, which he founded in 1993 to commercialize a novel micromechanical technology pioneered by researchers at Cornell University. 

Cornell Service

Galvin serves on the Cornell University Council, Engineering Advisory Council, and as Director of the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research.

Professional Career

From 1993 to 2000, Kionix grew from its two founders to over 40 employees and developed products in inertial sensors, microfluidics, data storage, micro-relays, and micro-optics.  Late in 2000, Kionix was acquired for its optical switching technology by Calient Networks of San Jose, CA and renamed Calient Optical Components. Just prior to the acquisition, a new company was spun out to the then Kionix shareholders to pursue inertial sensor, microfluidics, and data storage markets. This company regained the Kionix name post acquisition.  From the acquisition until June 2002, Galvin served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Calient Optical Components and on the boards of both Calient Networks and the new Kionix.  In July 2002, he returned full time to Kionix as President and Chief Executive Officer and advanced the company to its 2009 acquisition as a wholly-owned subsidiary by Rohm Co., Ltd. of Japan. Galvin is also Chairman of the Board of Rheonix, Inc., a company that originated at Kionix in 2008 to develop technology in the molecular diagnostic industry.  

Galvin served for over five years as the Deputy Director of the Cornell Nanofabrication Facility (CNF) in which the Cornell micromechanical research was conducted.  Prior to founding Kionix, he was employed by Cornell University as Director of Corporate Research Relations, focusing on transferring technology from the university to industry.

Galvin is a member of several scientific societies, has published over 20 technical papers, and holds 58 patents. Dr. Galvin is a founding member, and former chairman, of the Finger Lakes Entrepreneurs Forum.  He is a Director of the Tompkins County Area Development, Inc., the Kensa Group, the El Portal de Belén Foundation, and Ithaca’s Sciencenter.  A leading authority on MEMS product innovation, Dr. Galvin is frequently invited to speak at meetings and conferences in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

He is married to Betsy Galvin. They reside with their three children in Ithaca, NY.