Microwave Associates, Inc. was founded in August 1950 in Boston, Massachusetts by engineers Vessarios Chiga, Louis Roberts, Hugh Wainwright, and Richard M. Walker. Through a dedication to research and design, the company became a pioneer in microwave and radio frequency technology. By 1957 the company had grown too large for its Boston location and moved to a site on Route 128 - the "Electronics Highway." That same year it became a publicly-held company and was listed on the American Stock Exchange in 1959 and on the New York Stock Exchange in 1973.

Microwave Associates is involved not only in aerospace and defense-related industries but also in the wireless telecommunication and automotive industries. In 1978, the company legally changed its name to M/A-COM, Inc. to represent its communications involvement. M/A-COM has become a part of Tyco Electronics, the largest section of Tyco International, and has design and sales office around the globe.

One of Microwave Associates' founders, Richard M. Walker, was a Kansas native who, in 1943, graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering. He went on to work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Radiation Laboratory from 1943-1946 where he was involved in research and development of microwave radar for the armed forces. While there, Walker was chosen as a contributing author for volume nine of the McGraw-Hill Radiation Laboratory Series. From 1946-1950, Walker worked in the Electronics Division of Sylvania Electric Products,Inc. During his career, Walker earned 25 US and foreign patents, was a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and a registered professional engineer. In 1980, he received a Distinguished Engineering Service Award from the University of Kansas School of Engineering.

Richard M. Walker died in 1983. He was survived by his wife of 38 years, Adelaide (Holbrook) Walker, and his children, Edith and Richard.