Intel officially announces Pat Gelsinger as the company’s eighth chief executive officer in its history. This marks Pat’s return to the company, after becoming an accomplished CEO and industry veteran with more than four decades of technology and leadership experience – including 30 years at Intel, where he began his career.

Born in rural Robesonia, Pennsylvania, Pat received his associate degree from Lincoln Technical Institute at the age of 18 and moves to Silicon Valley to start his career at Intel as a quality control technician. While at Intel, Pat graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Santa Clara University. In 1985, Pat earned his first of eight patents.

When Intel introduced the 386 microprocessor in 1988, Pat was the design engineer No. 4 on the design team. And in that same year, he graduates from Stanford University with a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science. In 1992, Pat went on to become the vice president of the Intel Products Group and general manager of the Personal Computer Enhancement Division in the Business Communications Division.

Pat shared his thoughts on returning to lead the company, saying: “As the incoming CEO, I am just really thrilled that we have the opportunity to take this great icon of a company, this company that has been crucial to every aspect of technology, and have it be that leader again into the future. Because I believe that Intel has a treasure trove of technologists, of technology, and ultimately its core DNA is being that technology leader for the future. I’m just thrilled as a technologist, as a geek at heart, to be able to be in that leadership role to help bring the passions, the history, the opportunity of this great company forward as never before. Our best days are in front of us.”