Exhibit 99.1

[LOGO] CATC
Enabling Global Connectivity       Computer Access Technology Corporation
                                   2403 Walsh Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051-1302
                                   Tel: (408) 727-6600, Fax: (408) 727-6622
                                   www.catc.com

Contact: Carmine J. Napolitano
         Tel: (408) 486-7786
         Email: investor.relations@catc.com                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  CARMINE J. NAPOLITANO NAMED PRESIDENT OF CATC

      November  17,  2003,  Santa  Clara,  CA.  -  Computer  Access   Technology
Corporation  [CATC]  (Nasdaq:CATZ),  a communication  protocols  expert company,
announced  today that Carmine J.  Napolitano has been promoted to President from
his current role as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Napolitano will
be responsible for all day-to-day  operations of the Company allowing Dan Wilnai
to focus on  CATC's  strategic  initiatives  as  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive
Officer.

      In September 2002,  Napolitano  joined CATC as its Vice  President,  Chief
Financial Officer, and Secretary.  Prior to joining CATC Napolitano was the Vice
President of Finance &  Administration  and Chief  Financial  Officer of Centric
Software from August 1995 until August 2002. From 1993 until 1995 Napolitano was
Treasurer  at  Wavefront  Technologies,  a  leader  in  3D  animation  software.
Previously  Napolitano was an Associate with Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York and
was a design  engineer  for  Applied  Magnetics,  a global  high  tech  computer
component supplier.  Napolitano received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the
University  of  California,  Santa  Barbara  and a MBA in Finance  from New York
University.

      "We are very excited about Carmine's  promotion to the lead operating role
in the company," said Wilnai. "Carmine is an experienced business executive with
multi-disciplinary,  hands-on experience in finance,  sales and engineering.  In
the time we have  worked  together,  I learned to respect  Carmine's  leadership
skills,  business acumen, drive and focus. CATC has an outstanding team, a large
and loyal customer base, an excellent reputation for quality products,  customer
service,  and  technical  innovation  and a  very  solid  balance  sheet.  Under
Carmine's  leadership,  we look  forward to  continue  our drive to satisfy  our
customer requirements and to enhance our shareholders' value."


      About CATC

      CATC,  a  communication   protocol  expert  company,   provides   advanced
verification systems and connectivity products for existing and emerging digital
communications standards such as Bluetooth,  Ethernet, Fibre Channel, IEEE 1394,
InfiniBand,  PCI Express, SCSI, Serial ATA, Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), and USB.
CATC products are used by semiconductor,  device,  system and software companies
at each phase of their products'  lifecycles from development through production
and market  deployment.  CATC's expert protocol analysis systems allow customers
to monitor communications traffic,  diagnose design and operational problems and
confirm  interoperability and standards compliance.  Technicians also use CATC's
test and analysis  products on production  lines and for maintenance of deployed
systems and  networks.  CATC was founded in 1992 and is  headquartered  in Santa
Clara, California.  For more information regarding CATC and its products, please
visit http://www.catc.com/.

      Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This  press  release  may  contain  forward-looking  statements  based on CATC's
current  expectations,  such as availability of product,  market  acceptance and
competition,   management   capability   and   experience,   levels  of  growth,
profitability and shareholder  value. These  forward-looking  statements involve
risks and  uncertainties.  A number of  important  factors  could  cause  actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking  statements, such
as  CATC's  production  of new  products,  market  acceptance  of its  products,
competitive pressures, management performance,  success of growth, profitability
and increased  shareholder value.  These factors,  as well as other factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially, are discussed in more detail in
CATC's  Annual  Report on Form 10K,  filed March 21, 2003,  its most recent Form
10-Q filed on November  13, 2003 and  subsequent  filings CATC may make with the
SEC, as amended, which can be viewed at the Securities and Exchange Commission's
website at http://www.sec.gov/.


                                     2 of 2