8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

December 18, 2009

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

EMCORE CORPORATION

Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter

New Jersey	0-22175	22-2746503
State of Incorporation	Commission File Number	IRS Employer Identification Number

10420 Research Road, SE, Albuquerque, NM  87123

Address of principal executive offices, including zip code

(505) 332-5000

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

□             Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

□ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

□ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

□ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On December 18, 2009, the Board of Directors of EMCORE Corporation (the “Company”) elected Sherman McCorkle to the Board of Directors as a Class B Director.  Mr. McCorkle’s term on the Board of Directors began on December 18, 2009 and will expire at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders in 2010.   Mr. McCorkle is not expected to be named at this time to any of the committees of the Board of Directors.  Mr. McCorkle was not selected as a director pursuant to any arrangement or understanding between him and any other person.

Mr. McCorkle will receive the standard compensation received by non-employee directors, including participation in the Directors’ Stock Award Plan and fees for attending board meetings, as described in the Company’s 2009 Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on March 27, 2009. There are no, nor have there been any, related persons transactions between the Company and Mr. McCorkle reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

A copy of the Company’s press release announcing this appointment is attached as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Exhibit Description
99.1	Press Release, dated December 23, 2009, issued by EMCORE Corporation.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	EMCORE CORPORATION
Dated: December 24, 2009	By: /s/ John M. Markovich Name: John M. Markovich Title:   Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sherman McCorkle Joins Board of Directors of EMCORE Corporation

ALBUQUERQUE, NM--(Marketwire - 12/23/09) - EMCORE Corporation (NASDAQ:EMKR - News), a leading provider of compound semiconductor-based components, subsystems, and systems for the fiber optics and solar power markets, today announced that Sherman McCorkle was elected to join its Board of Directors as an Class B independent director.

Sherman McCorkle is a native New Mexican and has been deeply involved in the New Mexico business community for most of his career. He is President and Chief Executive Officer of Technology Ventures Corporation (TVC), an Albuquerque-based organization that assists start up companies in developing and commercializing technologies from research universities and the national laboratories.    Prior to joining TVC as President & CEO in 1993, Mr. McCorkle served as CEO & President of Sunwest Credit Services Corporation commencing in 1988. In 1977, he co-founded and was Charter Director of Plus Systems Incorporated, the original platform that enabled national and international electronic banking and ATM systems. In addition, Mr. McCorkle is a co-founder and Charter Director of New Mexico Bank and Trust and First Community Bank.

“As Chairman of Sandia Science and Technology Park, Sherman was instrumental in persuading EMCORE to locate and expand its operations in Albuquerque, and has been a great advocate of EMCORE in reaching out to the local community, state government, and congressional offices, ” stated Reuben F. Richards, EMCORE’s Chairman of the Board. “We are excited about the addition of Sherman to our Board, and look forward to working with him as we enter the new decade.”

“It is a great honor to serve on EMCORE’s board,” commented Mr. McCorkle. “I am very proud of EMCORE’s accomplishments over the last decade in Albuquerque. They took drawing board concepts from Sandia National Labs and successfully commercialized them to emerge as the largest high-efficiency solar cell provider in the world. EMCORE has served as an excellent example of what is possible by commercializing local technologies. I look forward to be a part of this very exciting company.”

Mr. McCorkle was elected to fill a Board vacancy and began service as a director immediately upon his election.  As a Class B director, he will stand for re-election at the Company’s 2010 annual meeting of shareholders.

About EMCORE

EMCORE Corporation is a leading provider of compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the broadband, fiber optic, satellite and terrestrial solar power markets. EMCORE's Fiber Optics unit offers optical components, subsystems and systems that enable the transmission of video, voice and data over high-capacity fiber optic cables for high-speed data and telecommunications, cable television (CATV) and fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) networks. EMCORE's Solar Power unit provides solar products for satellite and terrestrial applications. For satellite applications, EMCORE offers high-efficiency compound semiconductor-based gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells, covered interconnect cells and fully integrated solar panels. For terrestrial applications, EMCORE offers concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems for utility scale solar applications as well as offering its high-efficiency GaAs solar cells and CPV components for use in solar power concentrator systems. For specific information about our company, our products or the markets we serve, please visit our website at www.emcore.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS SAFE-HARBOR

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding EMCORE’s future growth and success in its community. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in any such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to (a) economic, competitive and regulatory conditions affecting our business and the markets for our products and (b) the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and EMCORE does not assume any obligation to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

Contact:

EMCORE Corporation

Silvia M. Gentile

Executive Offices

(505) 323-3417

info@emcore.com

TTC Group

Victor Allgeier

(646) 290-6400

vic@ttcominc.com