Dr. David T. Hon, the CEO and founder of Dahon, has been nominated for the University of California, Berkeley Excellence in Achievement Award for "his contributions in high-power lasers as well as his role in revolutionizing the modern-day folding bicycle."
The annual prize is given to prominent Cal alumni with records of exceptional career achievement. Hon has been recognized for his work and extensive contribution to green mobility within the international bicycle industry and by various organizations and groups.
Hon graduated in the class of 1964 with a BA in Physics, progressing to complete his Ph.D. at the University of Southern California in 1971. During his graduate years as an NSF and NASA scholar, Hon also held positions at California Polytechnic and the University of Southern California as a senior lecturer and assistant professor.
In 1971 he joined the Hughes Aircraft Company where he co-authored the widely used Laser Handbook. He started in the bicycle industry in 1981; he has nearly 300 patents related to folding bike technologies.