When Joe F. Moore was young, he liked to build model airplanes; it was a friend with whom he shared this passion who told him about the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Moore decided in 5th grade that he wanted to attend MIT, and he made his dream a reality that boosted the rest of his career. Once he graduated, Moore and his business partner applied their knowledge of computers to refinery operations, founding a company while Moore was still in his 20s. He went on to an acclaimed career as a chemical engineer, computing pioneer and scientific researcher. Although he is noted for his achievements, Moore says that the single most important thing in his life is his family. He is proud of his Chickasaw heritage and believes that the Chickasaw Nation is undergoing a renaissance because of its forward-looking attitude.