NYU Tandon Honors Pioneering Inventor Harold J. Paz (‘54) with the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award
Harold with his family members, Tandon Dean Juan De Pablo, and (on left) PAA president Amy P. Batallones
The NYU Tandon Polytechnic Alumni Association (PAA) recently selected Harold J. Paz ('54) as the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. The honor was presented at a gala dean's luncheon where Paz's extraordinary contributions to the electronics industry and his lasting impact on modern technology were recognized.
“It was an incredible honor to present Harold J. Paz with the award,” PAA president Amy Batallones said. “His groundbreaking work and lifelong commitment to innovation embody the very heart of NYU Tandon and continue to inspire generations of engineers.”
Paz's 1955 invention of the Transistor Direct-Coupled Amplifier revolutionized electronic design and led directly to the development of the world's first Analog Silicon Chip. His innovation eliminated bulky coupling capacitors from transistor circuits, enabling dramatic miniaturization of electronic devices. The first application was the Philco Mark I hearing aid in 1955, which catalyzed the transformation of hearing-aid technology from bulky vacuum-tube devices to sleek behind-the-ear models.
The impact of Paz's work extends far beyond hearing aids, however. When Fairchild Semiconductor acquired rights to his patent in 1959, they developed the uA702 operational amplifier — the first Analog Silicon Chip — which changed the electronics industry forever. Today, analog silicon chips are essential components in every electronic system, from smartphones and laptops to massive power systems.
Born in Brooklyn in 1929, during the Great Depression, Paz discovered his passion for electronics through a childhood radio kit. A high school teacher's encouragement led him to Brooklyn Polytechnic, where he founded the student chapter of the Institute of Radio Engineers and completed internships at Bell Labs and RCA.
Now, seven decades after graduation, Paz remains a testament to the power of innovation and perseverance. His journey from fixing radios to pioneering technology that powers today's digital world exemplifies the transformative possibilities of engineering education.
