Ernest U. Gambaro

Ernest U. Gambaro received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aeronautics and astronautics in 1960 and 1961, respectively. He began his career as a systems engineer at The Aerospace Corporation, where he contributed to the design of the nation's premier orbital reconnaissance system. Transitioning to law, Gambaro served as an attorney in Aerospace's corporate law department before becoming assistant general counsel for Computer Sciences Corporation in 1980. In 1988, Gambaro co-founded Infonet Service Corporation, a pioneering venture that became the world's largest provider of secure data services. Under his leadership, Infonet experienced exponential growth, culminating in a landmark public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 1999, valued at $10 billion. Gambaro's innovative contributions have had a lasting impact on the technology and telecommunications sectors. Purdue recognized Gambaro with an Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Award in 2016 and a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 2021. In addition, his enduring commitment to education is honored through the Gambaro Graduate Program of Aeronautics and Astronautics.