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David Packard

From Alfawiki
David Packard
BornTemplate:Birth date
Pueblo, Colorado, U.S.
DiedMarch 26, 1996(1996-03-26) (aged 83)
Occupation(s)Electrical engineer, business executive, philanthropist
Known forCo-founder of Hewlett-Packard, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense

David Packard (; September 7, 1912 – March 26, 1996) was a prominent American electrical engineer and co-founder of Hewlett-Packard (HP) alongside Bill Hewlett in 1939. He held several key leadership roles at HP, including president from 1947 to 1964, CEO between 1964 and 1968, and chairman of the board during two periods: 1964–1968 and 1972–1993. Packard also served as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1971 under the Nixon administration. Beyond his corporate career, he was president of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences from 1976 to 1981 and chaired its board of regents from 1973 until 1982. As a member of the Trilateral Commission, Packard was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1988 for his contributions to technology and philanthropy.

Personal life

Originating from Pueblo, Colorado, David Packard was born to Sperry Sidney Packard, an attorney, and Ella (Graber). From an early age, he demonstrated enthusiasm for science, engineering, athletics, and leadership roles. He completed his undergraduate studies at Stanford University in 1934, earning a B.A., where he also distinguished himself as a letterman in football and basketball, joined Phi Beta Kappa, and belonged to the Alpha Delta Phi Literary Fraternity. During his time at Stanford, he formed significant relationships with Lucile Salter and Bill Hewlett. After a short period at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Packard worked at General Electric Company before returning to Stanford to obtain a master’s degree in electrical engineering in 1938. That same year marked his marriage to Lucile Salter; together they had four children: David, Nancy, Susan, and Julie. Lucile passed away in 1987 at the age of 72.

Hewlett-Packard

In 1939, Packard and Hewlett established Hewlett-Packard (HP) in the garage of Packard’s home with an initial investment totaling $538. The company’s name was decided by tossing a coin, which resulted in “HP” rather than “PH.” Their inaugural product was an audio frequency oscillator that they sold to Walt Disney Studios for use in testing sound equipment for Fantasia.

HP evolved into the world’s leading manufacturer of electronic testing and measurement instruments. Over time, it expanded its portfolio to include calculators, computers, as well as laser and inkjet printers.

After incorporating HP in 1947, Packard became its first president until 1964 before assuming the roles of CEO and chairman through 1968. Following a brief hiatus during which he served in the Nixon administration from 1969 to 1971, he resumed chairmanship from 1972 until retiring in 1993. He orchestrated a significant corporate restructuring in 1991. At the time of his death in 1996, Packard’s ownership stake in HP was valued at more than $1 billion.

Packard attracted controversy due to HP’s business activities in South Africa, where its technology supported apartheid-era systems. In 1980, he officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for HP’s new headquarters in Johannesburg. When Nebraska chose to divest from South Africa, Packard expressed that he would rather lose business there than see South Africa benefit.

During Packard’s leadership, HP registered the domain "HP.com" on March 3, 1986, positioning it among the earliest corporate entities to secure an internet domain.

Department of Defense

When Richard Nixon assumed the presidency in 1969, he appointed Packard as the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, serving under Secretary Melvin Laird. Packard stepped down from this role in December 1971 and resumed his leadership at Hewlett-Packard in 1972 as chairman of the board.

During his tenure at the Department of Defense (DoD), Packard introduced business-oriented resource management strategies to military operations and founded the Defense Systems Management College. In 1970, he implemented reforms targeting major procurement challenges, notably discontinuing Robert MacNamara's Total Package Procurement approach except in exceptional circumstances.

Shortly before leaving the DoD, Packard authored the "Packard Memo" concerning the "Employment of Military Resources in the Event of Civil Disturbances," which was enacted in February 1972. This directive clarified exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act, permitting federal military forces to intervene in restoring order during significant civil unrest or to safeguard federal property when local authorities fail or refuse to act. Such military involvement generally requires a Presidential Executive order, with only limited emergency exceptions allowed.

These guidelines have been interpreted as potentially enabling martial law within the United States, a practice that has been prohibited since 1878.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Packard remained a prominent defense procurement and management advisor to the White House. He served as chairman of The Business Council from 1973 to 1974 and led The Packard Commission between 1985 and 1986.

Philanthropy

From the early 1980s until his passing in 1996, Packard dedicated considerable resources to philanthropic efforts. In 1964, he and his wife founded the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Their contributions included a $40 million donation in 1986 for the construction of the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University, which opened its doors in 1991. Motivated by their daughters, David and Lucile also established the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation in 1978, eventually providing $55 million to inaugurate the aquarium in 1984, with Julie Packard serving as executive director. In 1987, Packard gave $13 million to establish the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Later, in 1994, both Packard and Hewlett jointly gifted $77 million to Stanford University, leading to the naming of the David Packard Electrical Engineering Building.

Packard held a position on the board of trustees for the American Enterprise Institute. Upon his death in 1996, he bequeathed nearly $4 billion—primarily consisting of real estate assets in Los Altos Hills, California—to the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. His three daughters remain active on the foundation’s board, while his son, David Woodley Packard, presides over the Packard Humanities Institute.

By 2025, the foundation had invested $1.2 billion into oceanographic research, establishing itself as a foremost private global benefactor in this domain.

Honors

Packard’s residence and garage in Palo Alto are officially recognized as "The Birthplace of Silicon Valley." An oil tanker named David Packard, constructed in 1977 and operated by Chevron, bore his namesake. In 2021, MBARI launched a new research vessel called R/V David Packard in tribute to him as their founder.

See also

References

Articles

Books

  • Packard, David. HP Way: How Bill Hewlett and I Built Our Company. Collins, 1995.

Interviews

External links


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