Yih-Ho Michael Pao (21 September 1934 – 11 September 2013) was a Chinese-born American entrepreneur and hydro-engineer. He was an early pioneer in developing large-scale wind turbines.
Pao graduated from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in 1962. In 2009, JHU awarded Pao its Distinguished Alumni Award.
Between 1970 and 2000, he formed and led six commercial companies in the United States based upon new technologies. These efforts created, developed and commercialized four new technologies that produce industrial tools:Chen, James (September 2006) "Dr. Yih-Ho Michael Pao: A Windpower Pioneer, New Invention on Floating-Vertical-Axis-Wind-Turbines" e-Bao Magazine Houston Asian News; pdf file includes Chinese and English Waterjet technology Horizontal directional drilling technology Vertical axis wind turbine technology Advanced wet-blasting technology
In 2000, Pao was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for his research, development, and commercialization of ultrahigh-pressure waterjet technology."Yih-Ho Michael Pao, Dr. Eng." The Third International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, American Academy of Sciences Pao's elder brother Yih-Hsing had been elected to the NAE fifteen years earlier.
Pao died in Houston, Texas on 11 September 2013.
Notes
Further reading Staff (March 2009) "China Needs More Innovations: Interview with Dr. Y. H. Michael Pao" iChina Magazine