# James Truchard

> James Joseph Truchard is an American engineer, NI cofounder, and former president, CEO, and chairman. He helped develop LabVIEW with Jeff Kodosky, led National Instruments for four decades, supported hands-on engineering education, and published a book about his Texas Hill Country garden.

- **Role:** Cofounder and former president, CEO, and chairman of NI (National Instruments)
- **Organizations:** NI (National Instruments), University of Texas at Austin Applied Research Laboratories, National Academy of Engineering, IEEE, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Austin Software Council
- **From:** Austin County, Texas, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. in Physics, University of Texas at Austin, M.S. in Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
- **Known for:** Cofounded National Instruments in 1976 and led it as president and CEO through December 2016., Co-invented LabVIEW, introduced in 1986., Elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007.

## Career timeline

- **1963-1976** — Worked in UT Austin Applied Research Laboratories’ Acoustical Measurements Division, first as a research scientist and later as division head.
- **1976** — Cofounded National Instruments with Jeff Kodosky and Bill Nowlin in his garage.
- **1986** — Introduced LabVIEW with Jeff Kodosky.
- **1995** — NI went public; Truchard subsequently developed its hundred-year values-based plan.
- **2013** — Contributed $10 million toward UT Austin’s Engineering Education and Research Center; published his garden book.
- **2016-12** — Completed his tenure as NI president and CEO; Alex Davern succeeded him on January 1, 2017.
- **2018-09** — Resigned from NI’s board effective September 19, 2018.
- **2019** — Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for LabVIEW.
- **2023** — Received the IEEE James H. Mulligan, Jr. Education Medal.
- **2024** — Received Rice Engineering’s Dean’s Appreciation Award.
- **2026-05** — Joined NI Connect in Fort Worth during NI’s 50th and LabVIEW’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

## Achievements

- Cofounded National Instruments in 1976 and led it as president and CEO through December 2016.
- Co-invented LabVIEW, introduced in 1986.
- Elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007.
- National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee, 2019.
- IEEE James H. Mulligan, Jr. Education Medal recipient, 2023.
- Rice Engineering Dean’s Appreciation Award recipient, 2024.
- Contributed $10 million toward UT Austin’s Engineering Education and Research Center in 2013.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — NI’s May 21 recap reported a standing ovation for Truchard and Jeff Kodosky at the NI Connect Partner Forum in Fort Worth, during NI’s 50th and LabVIEW’s 40th anniversary year.
- **2024-08** — Rice announced Truchard as the 2024 Dean’s Appreciation Award recipient for contributions to engineering education.
- **2024-01** — Central Texas Gardener featured his Hill Country garden, native plants, stonework, and wildlife habitats.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/james-truchard
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22