Vice President Software Engineering & Development
Sun Microsystems
(profile at the time of induction in 2005)

Through her ongoing efforts to encourage women to realize their full potential in science and technology at every level of education and corporate engagement, Barbara Bauer has helped inspire the next generation of women technology pioneers and balance the male/female composition of classroom and boardrooms.

She is known for spearheading several advanced projects that have redefined technology roadmaps, while also volunteering to serve as president for Girls Count, a non-profit Colorado-based coalition formed to promote mathematical, science and technology education among female students.

Barbara currently serves as a volunteer on a five-person planning committee, overseeing the development of Colorado State University's Women in Information Technology Center, designed to encourage women who have already embraced careers in IT.

As the Vice President of Software Engineering and Development for Sun Microsystems, formerly StorageTek, Barbara leads an organization of 180 software developers working in engineering centers around the world. This organization is building an important portfolio of new software products with a flexible and highly efficient platform infrastructure.

Prior to joining Sun, Barbara held executive positions at US West, a major telecommunications provider in the western United States. At US West, her organization of 800 engineers provided the major enterprise applications for this company and pioneered the use of Internet technology in customer applications.

During her career in software development, she has worked for Bell Laboratories, IBM, and Raynet, a subsidiary of Raychem.

Her academic background includes a bachelor's and master's degrees in physics.

Through her professional career and ongoing, selfless contributions to the advancement of women in science and technology, Barbara follows one guiding principle: pioneering innovation knows no human template.

• Profile updated in 2007

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