Dr. Jorge L. Valdes hails from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, America’s Innovation Agency where over 374 thousand patents were granted to inventors last year. Dr. V, as students like to call him, works in the Office of Education where he designs educational programs about Intellectual Property for students of all ages. Dr. V was a research scientist and an engineer at the world-renowned AT&T Bell Laboratories and has 33 patented inventions. His first invention is a machine that makes safer the manufacturing process for making the computer systems that power high-speed communication networks around the world and that we use today to surf the internet and watch streaming videos. For his pioneering work in reagent generation technology, Dr. V received the E.O. Lawrence Laureate award from the U.S. Department of Energy on behalf of the President of the United States. Dr. V is also a former STEM high school teacher in New Jersey where he taught chemistry, physics, astronomy, oceanography and innovation. Dr. V helped a team of high school students successfully launch a bone cell experiment aboard the STS-135 mission, NASA’s historic last flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Dr. V has a Ph.D. degree in Electrochemical Engineering from Columbia University and an Executive MBA from Northwestern University. In addition to his patents, Dr. V has published more than 100 science and technology papers in peer-reviewed journals and magazines, and has won numerous corporate and industry awards for his contributions in science, technology, education, and diversity.

What are you most proud of in your work or life?

The students and colleagues I have had the privilege and honor of mentoring throughout my career.

What are your passions and hobbies?

CrossFit training; Fishing, Traveling, Exploring

Do you have a personal motto or other words to live by?

Doing your best is good enough. Be proud of you.

Favorite snack food?

Peanut butter and jelly on graham crackers