EL SEGUNDO, CA, July 1996 - International Rectifier (IR), the leading supplier of advanced semiconductors for power conversion applications, announced the addition of Robert Corbett as Director of Marketing for Worldwide Ballast Strategy.

"Bob has extensive design and management experience in the ballast industry and we are fortunate to have him become a part of our ballast team", said Howard Abramowitz, Vice President Industrial Marketing. In his position, Corbett is charged with managing IR's participation in the electronic lighting (ballast) industry. He will also be responsible for developing a long-term plan for providing ballast solutions and power supply alternatives to the lighting industry.

Corbett combines over 30 years experience in engineering management and power product development for government, industrial and commercial applications. Most recently, Corbett managed product development and addressed product quality concerns as Vice President of Engineering and Quality for the Lighting Products Group of Magnetek, Inc. in Huntington, Indiana. He was Director of Engineering for Motorola's Lighting Product business during its start-up in 1990-91.

The bulk of Corbett's vast experience was gained through his 21 years at Lockheed in Sunnyvale, California, beginning his career as an engineer in electrical power systems. Corbett moved to supervising energy storage and power controls, then managed power electronics and electrical power systems.

Corbett received his B.S. degree in Mathematics from St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia, and holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Santa Clara University, in Santa Clara, California. Active in power electronic professional activities, he was founding chairman of the Power Electronic Council. Corbett has served as an officer and remains an active member of the Power Electronics Society, of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).