UW Electrical & Computer Engineering

UW ECE is proud to welcome alumnus Jared K. Jordan (BSEE '05) as the honored guest speaker for our Graduation Ceremony.

Jordan is a managing vice president at Capital One and leads Capital One Garage, the company's innovation accelerator. Over his career, he has held engineering leadership roles at Google, YouTube, Netflix, and Microsoft, helping shape products and technologies used by millions worldwide. He is also a passionate advocate for inclusive, high-impact engineering teams.

Hec Edmundson Pavilion
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
7–9 p.m.

We're excited for our graduates — and their families and supporters — to hear Jordan's reflections and advice as we celebrate the Class of 2026.

Learn more: www.ece.uw.edu/spotlight/2026-graduation-jared-k-jordan

Congratulations to UW ECE undergraduate Anders Pearson on being awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship!

Advised by UW ECE and Allen School Professor Joshua Smith, Pearson conducts research in Smith's Sensor Systems Laboratory, exploring the intersection of machine learning and wireless communication networks. Professor Smith leads several high-profile research initiatives at the University, including work on wireless power transfer systems for lunar environments, providing a strong foundation for this cutting-edge research.

This prestigious fellowship recognizes Pearson's accomplishments and will support his graduate studies at the UW. We're excited to see what comes next.

Read the full story: www.ece.uw.edu/spotlight/2026-nsf-grfp-anders-pearson

UW researchers have engineered a new type of optical chip!

A research team led by UW ECE and Physics Professor Arka Majumdar has developed a low-power, programmable optical microchip that could help advance artificial intelligence, sensing, imaging, and other high-performance technologies.

Unlike traditional optical circuits, this new chip can be electrically reconfigured and maintains its state without constant power—making it more energy efficient.

Read the full story: www.ece.uw.edu/spotlight/a-new-type-of-optical-chip

🚀 Voltair has launched!

Voltair — a Y Combinator startup co-founded by UW ECE alums Ronan Nopp (BSECE '25) and Hayden Gosch (BSECE '25) — officially launched on March 14. The company is building the world's first globally distributed network of autonomous drones for Earth observation, delivering on-demand insights for power utilities and enabling new applications in hyperlocal weather monitoring, forestry, construction, search and rescue, and insurance.

In 2025, Voltair won first prize at both the Environmental Innovation Challenge and the Dempsey Startup Competition at the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship in the Foster School of Business. The startup later went on to be accepted into the Buerk Accelerator Program, which accelerates the growth of early-stage, student-led companies, and Y Combinator, a premier Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator.

Learn more: www.ycombinator.com/launches/PhE-voltair-network-of-distributed-autonomous-drones-for-earth-observation