John Doerr, a graduate of Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing and a longtime supporter of the university, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
Election to the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Members are chosen by their peers for outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice or education.
Doerr, a venture capitalist and chair at Kleiner Perkins, was recognized “for leadership in enabling digital transformation through strategic investment, mentorship and the successful commercialization of innovative technology ventures,” according to the academy’s announcement of its Class of 2026.
A native of St. Louis, Doerr earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Rice before completing an MBA at Harvard Business School. He began his career at Intel in the 1970s, working on early microprocessor technology, and later joined Kleiner Perkins, where he helped back companies including Google and Amazon.
Doerr and his wife, Ann, have maintained close ties to Rice for decades. In 2015, they made a $50 million gift — the largest in university history at the time — to establish the Doerr Institute for New Leaders, a universitywide effort to develop principled, purpose-driven leadership skills in Rice students. The institute, now in its second decade, has reached thousands of students through coaching, courses and evidence-based development programs.
Their philanthropy has also supported engineering and leadership initiatives across campus, including OpenStax and the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership.
In 1997, Doerr was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rice for his accomplishments in business. His election to the NAE adds to a career that has bridged engineering, entrepreneurship and public service, reflecting the broad impact of Rice engineers in industry and society.
Doerr and the other newly elected members will be formally inducted during the NAE annual meeting this fall in Washington, D.C.