Alum Makes Generous Gift to EECS
6-25-09

Top secret technology. Classified research. Reconnaissance satellites.

To say that Jim de Broekert has led an interesting life so far would be an understatement. The 1952 Oregon State University electrical engineering alumnus also earned two graduate degrees from Stanford University and went on to a career that involved the development of technology used to gather military intelligence via satellite.

de Broekert, who says his education at Oregon State University prepared him well for his career, recently made a generous $100,000 gift to the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to give back some of what he feels he has received. “I feel a great loyalty to OSU; the Electrical Engineering Department was very well run and I have had a very successful career as a result. An electrical engineering education teaches you how to think creatively and to solve challenging problems in electrical and related disciplines. You learn how and why the world works and experience a real sense of accomplishment.”

de Broekert’s first job was at North American Aviation (which later became part of Rockwell International and subsequently Boeing) working on defense electronics. He began working for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an agency of the Department of Defense, at its inception in 1960. His work involved the development of technology used to gather military intelligence via satellite. “I still can’t talk much about what I did back then,” he says of his top secret work at the NRO.

In 2000, de Broekert was honored by the National Reconnaissance Office as one of 46 “pioneers who made significant and lasting contributions to the discipline of national reconnaissance.” OSU’s College of Engineering also inducted him into its Engineering Hall of Fame in 2008.

He was a co-founder of two companies: ArgoSystems, where he was vice president from 1969-1976; and Signal Science, Inc., where he was vice president from 1976-1978. He then founded Advent Systems, Inc. in 1978 where he served in many roles, including CEO and chairman of the board. In 2005 Advent was acquired by Titan Corp. and subsequently by L-3 Communications. De Broekert is currently the Senior Scientist for the Advanced Systems and Technology Office of L-3 Communications where he continues actively contributing to the US national defense.