Thomas Zacharia Joins AMD as Senior Vice President for Strategic Technology Partnerships and Public Policy
In a significant move on March 4, 2024, AMD, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, announced the appointment of Thomas Zacharia as the senior vice president responsible for overseeing strategic technology partnerships and public policy. Zacharia’s primary focus in this new role will involve spearheading AMD’s global efforts to collaborate with governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and various entities to facilitate the rapid deployment of customized AI solutions powered by AMD. These solutions are specifically designed to support a myriad of global initiatives that aim to harness the power of AI for the greater public good.
Lisa Su, the esteemed Chair and CEO of AMD, commended Zacharia’s exceptional track record in establishing successful public-private partnerships that have resulted in the deployment of cutting-edge computing solutions, including the renowned supercomputer, Frontier. During his tenure as the Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a prominent multi-program science and energy research facility in the U.S., Zacharia made significant contributions that caught Su’s attention. She highlighted Zacharia’s unique position to leverage his extensive experience in pushing the boundaries of science and technology to aid nations worldwide in implementing AMD-powered AI solutions for societal progress.
Zacharia, with over 35 years of experience at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, expressed his excitement about his new role and his eagerness to utilize his expertise to drive the adoption of High-Performance Computing (HPC) and AI technologies for global advancement. He praised the capabilities and innovative technology solutions of the AMD leadership team, particularly acknowledging the successful launch of Frontier. Zacharia eagerly anticipates collaborating with the talented AMD team to develop impactful technologies and solutions that will make a positive global impact on countries and organizations.
A distinguished figure in the industry, Zacharia brings a wealth of experience in scientific research, technology development, public policy, and strategic public-private partnerships. His pivotal role in overseeing the development and implementation of the AMD-powered supercomputer, Frontier, which broke the Exascale barrier and has held the title of the world’s fastest supercomputer since May 2022, speaks volumes about his expertise. Equipped with AMD EPYC processors and AMD Instinct accelerators, Frontier has received prestigious accolades, including multiple Gordon Bell Awards, for its remarkable contributions to various scientific fields such as healthcare, materials, and energy.
With academic qualifications that include a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, India, an M.S. in materials science from the University of Mississippi, and a Ph.D. in engineering science from Clarkson University, Zacharia has been instrumental in leading significant multi-institutional research initiatives at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His involvement in projects like the Exascale Computing Project, Quantum Science Center, and Center for BioEnergy Innovation underscores his dedication to advancing scientific applications across diverse domains, including addressing national security challenges.
About AMD
For more than five decades, AMD has been a pioneer in high-performance computing, graphics, and visualization technologies. With a global presence, AMD’s technology is relied upon by billions of individuals, leading Fortune 500 companies, and cutting-edge scientific research institutions worldwide. The dedicated team at AMD is committed to developing top-tier, high-performance products that push the boundaries of technological innovation.
Source: AMD
