EXHIBIT 24
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all by these presents, that John J. Petersen hereby constitutes and appoints
James J. Peterson, David R. Sonksen, Ralph Brandi, Debbie Weber and John M.
Holtrust, or any of them acting singly, each with full power of substitution,
John J. Petersen's true and lawful attorney in fact to:

(1)        execute for and on behalf of John J. Petersen, in John J. Petersen's
capacity as an executive officer and/or director of MICROSEMI CORPORATION (the
"Company"): (i) a Form 3, Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities;
(ii) a Form 4, Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership of Securities; and
(iii) a Form 5, Annual Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities, in
accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
rules thereunder;

(2)        do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of John J. Petersen
which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute such Form 3, Form 4,
and Form 5 report(s) and to timely file such Form(s) with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority;
and

(3)        take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney in fact, may be of benefit to, in
the best interest of, or legally required by, John J. Petersen, it being understood
that the documents executed by such attorney in fact on behalf of John J. Petersen
pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such
terms and conditions as such attorney in fact may approve in such attorney in
fact's discretion.

John J. Petersen hereby grants to such attorney in fact full power and authority
to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or
proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted,
as fully to all intents and purposes as John J. Petersen might or could do if
personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that such attorney in fact, or such attorney in fact's substitute
or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of
Attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. John J. Petersen acknowledges
that the foregoing attorney in fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of
John J. Petersen, is not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of John J.
Petersen's responsibility to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by John
J. Petersen in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorney in fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, John J. Petersen has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of this 6th day of September, 2002.

                                                /s/ John J. Petersen
                                                Signature