Dr. Tai obtained his BS degree from the University of California, Berkeley and his MS and Ph.D. degrees from Wayne State University. From 1978 to 1993, he was with the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM), a pioneer in optics and radar development and was known for its development of synthetic aperture radar, LANDSAT technology and holography. He headed the Electro Optics Techniques and Devices Department in the Advanced Concepts Division from 1986 to 1993.
Dr. Tai joined the Michigan Development Corporation in 1993, a for-profit subsidiary of ERIM, to create new companies to commercialize the holographic sighting technology. He took on the role of Vice President of Product Development in the new company in 1995. He became the President and CEO of EOTech in 2000.
Together with other members of the management team and several board members, he acquired EOTech from ERIM in 2002. The company was sold to L-3 Communications Corp in 2005. Dr. Tai continued with the company, renamed L-3 Communications EOTech, as its CTO after the sale. He retired from the company in 2010.
Dr. Tai has published 34 papers in referenced technical journals and another 18 in conference proceedings. He has also authored 36 technical reports for various research programs and contributed to chapters in two books. He holds 15 U.S. patents.
In 2008, Dr. Tai was elected to the Wayne State University College of Engineering Hall of Fame.