Why did Stanford focus on microwave electronics after World War II?

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After World War II, Frederick E. Terman returned to Stanford University as dean of engineering with the goal of transforming the institution into a "West Coast MIT."

He chose to prioritize microwave electronics for two primary reasons:

Wartime Expertise: During the war, Terman served as the director of Harvard University’s Radio Research Laboratory, where he gained significant experience developing radar jamming and electronic countermeasure technologies. He leveraged this specific background to set the research direction for the university.1
Funding Opportunities: Terman actively solicited military contracts to support academic research. By focusing on microwave technology, he was able to secure funding for faculty members who had already gained specialized experience in that field during the war. This strategy was highly successful, and by 1949, Stanford had become one of the top three recipients of government research contracts in the country.1