I was born in Saigon, Vietnam. After spending several months in a refugee camp in Hong Kong, I came to Austin, Texas empty handed, having absolutely no English speaking skills or any parents to lean on.
I attended William B. Travis High School in Austin, Texas and graduated fourth in my class. While working to support myself, I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering, Summa cum Laude, from the University of Texas at Austin in 1986 and a Master of Science Degree in Telecommunication Management in 1991 from Southern Methodist University. In a professional capacity spanning 16 years, I worked as a development engineer and as a contractor.