Rick Durante
About Rick Durante
Rick Durante serves as the Sr. Director of SSD Validation at KIOXIA America, Inc., specializing in flash memory technology and solid state drive development. He has over 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, including significant roles at Intel Corporation and as a technical advisor at FIRST.
Work at Kioxia
Rick Durante has been serving as the Sr. Director of SSD Validation at KIOXIA America, Inc. since 2015. In this role, he focuses on the validation processes for solid-state drives, leveraging his extensive background in flash memory technology. His tenure at Kioxia has spanned over nine years, during which he has contributed to advancements in SSD development and validation methodologies.
Experience at Intel Corporation
Durante worked at Intel Corporation for a total of 18 years in various engineering roles. His positions included Sr. Staff Systems Engineer from 2003 to 2012, Design Automation Manager from 1995 to 1999, Non-Volatile Memory Logic Design Manager for a brief period in 2015, Sr. Staff Emulation Engineer from 2012 to 2015, and Design Engineering Manager from 1999 to 2003. This diverse experience allowed him to develop expertise in chip-level and system product development, particularly in non-volatile storage.
Education and Expertise
Rick Durante studied Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned his Bachelor's degree from 1986 to 1988. He also attended Eastern Illinois University, focusing on pre-engineering from 1984 to 1986. His educational background laid the foundation for his specialization in flash memory technology and solid-state drive development.
Role at FIRST
Since 2009, Durante has served as a Technical Advisor for FIRST in the Sacramento, California area. In this capacity, he provides technical guidance and support, contributing to the organization's mission of inspiring young people to engage in science and technology. His involvement with FIRST spans over 15 years.
Professional Development and Methodology
Durante has several years of experience in driving design methodology within the semiconductor industry. His roles at both Kioxia and Intel have involved the development and implementation of design processes that enhance product reliability and performance, particularly in the field of non-volatile memory.