Farrokh Ayazi, an internationally recognized researcher, inventor, and entrepreneur whose innovations have led to breakthroughs in microsystems and sensing technologies, has been named the Holman Chair in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 

The Holman Chair honors the legacy of two accomplished Georgia Tech electrical engineering alumni, Wayne J. Holman Sr. (EE 1901) and his son Wayne J. Holman Jr. (EE 1928), whose professional achievements, leadership, and lifelong service to Georgia Tech continue to influence the Institute and its alumni community. The endowed chair serves as a lasting tribute to their commitment to engineering excellence, innovation, and education. 

Ayazi joined the Georgia Tech faculty in 1999 and has built a globally renowned research program focused on micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS), including resonators, inertial sensors, and integrated microsystems. He currently serves as the Ken Byers Professor in Microsystems, and his work has advanced technologies used in navigation, communications, healthcare, and industrial applications while helping establish Georgia Tech as a leader in microsystems research. 

Beyond his scholarly contributions, Ayazi is among Georgia Tech's most accomplished faculty innovators. In 2022, he became ECE's first faculty member to be named a Regents' Entrepreneur by the University System of Georgia, a distinction recognizing tenured faculty who have successfully translated research into commercial ventures and demonstrated a sustained record of innovation. 

Ayazi co-founded Qualtré, a Georgia Tech spinout that commercialized a new class of chip-scale gyroscopes for navigation applications in autonomous vehicles and other systems. The company was acquired by Panasonic in 2016. He also founded StethX Microsystems, which is developing advanced wearable microsensors that enable long-term monitoring of cardiopulmonary health and support earlier detection of respiratory and cardiac conditions. 

His achievements have earned widespread recognition from both the research and innovation communities. Ayazi was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2023 and is an IEEE Fellow. He holds approximately 70 patents and has built a career distinguished by both scientific discovery and the successful translation of technology from the laboratory to the marketplace. 

In addition to his research and entrepreneurial accomplishments, Ayazi has served in numerous leadership roles within the international MEMS community and has mentored generations of students and researchers. 

About the Holman Chair 

The Holman Chair was established in memory of Wayne J. Holman Sr. (EE 1901) and his son, Wayne J. Holman Jr. (EE 1928), to honor their accomplishments and enduring legacies at Georgia Tech. 

A member of one of Georgia Tech's earliest electrical engineering graduating classes, Wayne J. Holman Sr. earned his degree in 1901 and was active in campus life, including serving as captain of the football team. 

Wayne J. Holman Jr. earned his electrical engineering degree from Georgia Tech in 1928 before pursuing advanced studies at Yale University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and New York University. He went on to a distinguished career in industry, serving as president of Chicopee Manufacturing Corporation, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, before becoming treasurer, director, and a member of Johnson & Johnson's executive committee. 

Throughout his career, Holman Jr. remained deeply committed to Georgia Tech. He served as a trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation, led the Greater New York Georgia Tech Alumni Club, and established the Institute's first Class Memorial Fund, helping create a tradition of reunion giving that continues to benefit Georgia Tech today. 

Through the Holman Chair and its supporting endowment, the legacy of these two distinguished alumni continues to inspire future generations of faculty, students, and engineers while supporting excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.