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'''Vinton G.''' ('''Vint''') '''Cerf'''  is a computer scientist and widely recognized as one of the "Fathers of the Internet."" He was one of the inventors of the internet architecture and co-designer of the basic protocols ([[TCP/IP]]) along with [[Robert Kahn]]. He serves as vice president and chief internet evangelist for [[Google]] and his primary responsibility is to identify new enabling technologies to support the development of advanced internet-based products and services of the company.<ref>[http://www.mondostars.com/business/vintoncerf.html mondostars]</ref> <ref>[http://www.persona.rin.ru/eng/view/f/0/18040/vinton-cerf-vinton-cerf Persona]</ref> <ref>[http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ii_cerf.htm Living Internet]</ref> He is currently involved in the Interplanetary Internet Project.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/22/tech/web/icann/ ICANN, CNN.com]</ref>
'''Dr. Vinton G.''' ('''Vint''') '''Cerf'''  is a computer scientist and widely recognized as one of the "Fathers of the Internet."" He was one of the inventors of the internet architecture and co-designer of the basic protocols ([[TCP/IP]]) along with [[Robert Kahn]]. He serves as vice president and chief internet evangelist for [[Google]] and his primary responsibility is to identify new enabling technologies to support the development of advanced internet-based products and services for the company.<ref>[http://www.mondostars.com/business/vintoncerf.html mondostars]</ref> <ref>[http://www.persona.rin.ru/eng/view/f/0/18040/vinton-cerf-vinton-cerf Persona]</ref> <ref>[http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ii_cerf.htm Living Internet]</ref> He is also currently involved in the [[Interplanetary Internet]] Project.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/22/tech/web/icann/ ICANN, CNN.com]</ref>


His personal interests include fine wine, gourmet cooking and science fiction. Cerf and his wife, Sigrid, were married in 1966 and have two sons, David and Bennett.  
His personal interests include fine wine, gourmet cooking and science fiction. Mr. Cerf and his wife, Sigrid, were married in 1966 and have two sons, David and Bennett.  
 
''"The internet is a reflection of our society and that mirror is going to be reflecting what we see. If we do not like what we see in that mirror the problem is not to fix the mirror, we have to fix society."''
―'''Vint Cerf'''―


==Education==
==Education==
Cerf received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Stanford University and Master of Science and doctorate degrees in Computer Science from UCLA. He also holds honorary Doctorate degrees from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich; Lulea University of Technology, Sweden; University of the Balearic Islands, Palma; Capitol College, Maryland; Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania; George Mason University, Virginia; Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona, Spain; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York; the University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands; Brooklyn Polytechnic; and the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. <ref>[http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=533508&ticker=GOOG:US Vinton G. Cerf Ph.D.-Executive Profile]</ref>
Vinton Cerf received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Stanford University and Master of Science and doctorate degrees in Computer Science from UCLA. He also holds honorary Doctorate degrees from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich; Lulea University of Technology, Sweden; Royal Roads University, Canada; University of the Balearic Islands, Palma; Capitol College, Maryland; Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania; George Mason University, Virginia; Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona, Spain; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York; the University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands; Brooklyn Polytechnic; and the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. <ref>[http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=533508&ticker=GOOG:US Vinton G. Cerf Ph.D.-Executive Profile]</ref>


==Career History==
==Career History==
===Early Careers: From IBM to UCLA===
===Early Career: From IBM to UCLA===
After receiving his degree in Mathematics at Stanford University in 1965, Vint joined [[IBM]] as systems engineer on the QUIKTRAN time-sharing system project. In 1966, he started providing computer communications consultancy services for different companies and organizations including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ([[DARPA]]), Defense Information Systems Agency ([[DISA]]), [[MCI]] Communications Corp., National Security Agency, [[IEEE]] etc. He left IBM in 1967 and joined the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) Computer Science Department as principal programmer. Vint managed several projects at UCLA such as the [[ARPANET]] Network Measurement Center, a video graphics project involving computer-controlled 16 mm camera. He also participated in the development of the ARPANET host protocol specifications. He left UCLA in 1972.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/cerf-testimony-08feb01-en.htm#Vita Vinton Cerf Curriculum Vitae]</ref>  
After receiving his degree in Mathematics at Stanford University in 1965, Vint joined [[IBM]] as systems engineer on the QUIKTRAN time-sharing system project. In 1966, he started providing computer communications consultancy services for different companies and organizations including the U.S. [[DARPA|Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (DARPA), [[Defense Information Systems Agency]], [[MCI]] Communications Corp., the National Security Agency, the [[IEEE]], etc. He left IBM in 1967 and joined the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) Computer Science Department as the principal programmer. Vint managed several projects at UCLA such as the [[ARPANET]] Network Measurement Center, and a video graphics project involving computer-controlled 16 mm camera. He also participated in the development of the ARPANET host protocol specifications. He left UCLA in 1972.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/cerf-testimony-08feb01-en.htm#Vita Vinton Cerf Curriculum Vitae]</ref>


===Tenure at Stanford University===
===Tenure at Stanford University===
From UCLA, Cerf moved to Stanford University's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department as assistant professor. He taught classes in operating systems, algorithms & data structures as well as networking. During his tenure at the university, he also conducted research on packet network interconnection protocols and joined [[Robert Kahn]] as principal investigator and co-designer of the next generation networking protocol project for the ARPANET. In 1973, they distributed the draft of the paper entitled: "A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication" during the INWG special meeting at Sussex University in 1973 and eventually published the final research IEEE Transactions of Communications Technology 1974. Cerf and Kahn successfully designed the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol ([[TCP/IP]]).<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/cerf-testimony-08feb01-en.htm#Vita Vinton Cerf Curriculum Vitae]</ref> <ref>[http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ii_cerf.htmVinton Cerf -- TCP/IP Co-Designer]</ref> He also volunteered to serve as Chairman of the International Network Working Group ([[INWG]]) modeled from the ARPANET's Network Working Group. Its main objective is to develop common technical standards that would allow any computer to connect to the ARPANET.<ref>[http://alexmckenzie.weebly.com/inwg-and-the-conception-of-the-internet-an-eyewitness-account.html INWG and the Conception of the Internet: An Eyewitness Account]</ref>  Vint ended his teaching career at Stanford in 1976.
From UCLA, Cerf moved to Stanford University's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department as assistant professor. He taught classes in operating systems, algorithms & data structures as well as networking. During his tenure at the university, he also conducted research on packet network interconnection protocols and joined [[Robert Kahn]] as principal investigator and co-designer of the next generation networking protocol project for the [[ARPANET]]. In 1973, they distributed the draft of the paper entitled: "A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication" during the INWG special meeting at Sussex University in 1973 and eventually published the final research IEEE Transactions of Communications Technology 1974. Cerf and Kahn successfully designed the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol ([[TCP/IP]]).<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/cerf-testimony-08feb01-en.htm#Vita Vinton Cerf Curriculum Vitae]</ref> <ref>[http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ii_cerf.htmVinton Cerf -- TCP/IP Co-Designer]</ref> He later volunteered to serve as Chairman of the International Network Working Group, which was modeled on the ARPANET's Network Working Group. Its main objective was to develop common technical standards that would allow any computer to connect to the ARPANET.<ref>[http://alexmckenzie.weebly.com/inwg-and-the-conception-of-the-internet-an-eyewitness-account.html INWG and the Conception of the Internet: An Eyewitness Account]</ref>  Vint ended his teaching career at Stanford in 1976.


===Role at DARPA (1976-1982)===
===Role at DARPA (1976-1982)===
In 1976, Cerf  accepted the position offered by DARPA to serve as program manager. He later became a principal scientist of the agency. At DARPA, he continued working with Khan on networking and TCP/IP protocols. They demonstrated how the internet works through the ARPANET, Packet Radio net and SATNET. They sent messages from a van in the bay area across the United States on ARPANET to the University College of London and back via satellite to Virginia through the ARPANET located at the  University of Southern California’s Information Sciences Institute to prove the viability of the TCP/IP protocol to connect networks worldwide. In 1983, the TCP/IP protocol became the standard protocol for the ARPANET, which became the internet. During his tenure at the agency from 1976 to 1982, Cerf indeed played a key role leading the development of the internet including internet related data packet and security technologies. <ref>[http://www.computerhistory.org/internet_history/internet_history_70s.html Computer History Museum]</ref> <ref>[http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/cerf.htm Vinton Cerf TCP/IP Protocol]</ref>
In 1976, Cerf  accepted the position offered by DARPA to serve as program manager. He later became a principal scientist of the agency. At DARPA, he continued working with Robert Khan on networking and TCP/IP protocols. They demonstrated how the internet works through the ARPANET, Packet Radio net and SATNET. To prove the international viability of the TCP/IP protocols, the team sent messages from a van in the bay area, across the United States on ARPANET, and on to the University College of London and back via satellite. In 1983, the TCP/IP protocol became the standard protocol for the ARPANET, which went on to became the Internet. During his tenure at the agency, from 1976 to 1982, Cerf played a key role in leading the development of the Internet, including related data packet and security technologies. <ref>[http://www.computerhistory.org/internet_history/internet_history_70s.html Computer History Museum]</ref> <ref>[http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/cerf.htm Vinton Cerf TCP/IP Protocol]</ref>


===More than a Decade Career at MCI===
===Career at MCI Worldcom===
From 1982-1886, he served as vice president of the Digital Information Services of [[MCI]] until 1986. During his work in the company, he led a team of engineers responsible in development and implementation of the MCI mail, which became the first commercial e-mail service connected to the internet. In 1994, he rejoined MCI as Senior Vice President of Data Architecture responsible in the architectural design of the company's data and information services. He later became the company's Senior Vice President for Internet Architecture and Engineering responsible in leading a team of architects and engineers in designing advanced networking, internet systems and security applications. He spearheaded the technology that combined voice,data and internet. He resigned as Senior Vice President for Technology Strategy of the company in 2005 to serve as [[Google]]'s as chief internet evangelist.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/cerf-testimony-08feb01-en.htm#Vita Vinton Cerf Curriculum Vitae]</ref> <ref>
From 1982-1986, he served as vice president of the Digital Information Services of [[MCI]]. During his time at the company, he led a team of engineers responsible for the development and implementation of MCI mail, which became the first commercial e-mail service connected to the Internet. In 1994, he rejoined MCI as Senior Vice President of Data Architecture responsible for the architectural design of the company's data and information services. He later became the company's Senior Vice President for Internet Architecture and Engineering, leading a team of architects and engineers in designing advanced networking, internet systems and security applications. He spearheaded the technology that combined voice, data and internet. He resigned as Senior Vice President for Technology Strategy of the company in 2005 to serve as [[Google]]'s Chief Internet Evangelist.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/cerf-testimony-08feb01-en.htm#Vita Vinton Cerf Curriculum Vitae]</ref> <ref>
[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/09/09/GOOGLE.TMP Web pioneer signing on with Google]</ref>
[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/09/09/GOOGLE.TMP Web pioneer signing on with Google]</ref>


==Internet Organizations==
===Chief internet Evangelist (Google)===
Vinton Cerf serves as chairman of the board of [[ICANN]]. Cerf was seated at the 1999 annual meeting, having been selected by the Protocol Supporting Organization. He was selected by the nominating committee for a term on the Board of Directors, which ran from June 2003 through their 2004 meeting.  
Since 2005, Cerf has served as Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google. He is responsible for helping the company to build network infrastructure, architectures, systems and standards for next generation internet applications. He also serves as the company's representative to the global Internet community on different issues.<ref>[http://www.google.com/press/pressrel/vintcerf.html Cerf’s up at Google]</ref> <ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/cerf.htm Vinton G. Cerf | Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist]</ref>


Cerf served as founding president of [[ISOC]] from 1992 to 1995, and in 1999 served a term as chairman of the board. In addition, Cerf is honorary chairman of the [[IPv6 Forum]], dedicated to raising awareness and speeding introduction of the new Internet protocol. Cerf served as a member of the U.S. Presidential Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC) from 1997 to 2001 and serves on several national, state and industry committees focused on cyber-security.
==ICANN Involvement==
Vinton Cerf served as chairman of the board of [[ICANN]] from 2000 to 2007.<ref>[http://www.atlarge.icann.org/naralo/san-francisco-outreach/keynote.htm Keynote Speaker: Dr. Vinton Cerf]</ref> In 1999, he was a member of the [[ICANN Board]] of Directors, having been selected by the [[Protocol Supporting Organization]] (PSO).<ref>
[http://archive.icann.org/en/general/new-director-bios-28oct99.htm Directors Named by Protocol Supporting Organization (PSO)]</ref> He was selected by the [[NomCom|Nominating Committee]] (NomCom) to the Board of Directors from 2003 to 2004.<ref>
[http://www.icannwatch.org/article.pl?sid=03/06/16/1750242 Nomcom Stacks Board With Insiders (plus Corporate Executives)]</ref> During his term as chairman, he led the internet governing body in the introduction and promotion of retail competition in the registration of domain names, the development and implementation of the [[UDRP|Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy]] (UDRP), expansion of new [[gTLD|generic top level domain names]] (gTLDs) in 2000 and 2003, implementation of [[IDN|Internationalized Domain Names]] (IDNs), and other achievements.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/cerf-testimony-08feb01-en.htm#Vita Testimony of Vint Cerf Before U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce]</ref><ref>
[http://www.circleid.com/posts/vint_cerf_keynote_domain_roundtable/ Vint Cerf's Keynote at Domain Roundtable]</ref>


==Other Activities==
He also served in the following ICANN Committees/Groups:<ref>[https://community.icann.org/display/tap/2007-11-02+-+Thanks+to+Vint+Cerf 2007-11-02 - Thanks to Vint Cerf]</ref>
In addition to his work on behalf of MCI and the internet, Cerf has served as a technical advisor to production for "Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict." <ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0148576/ IMDB]</ref>and made a special guest appearance on the program in May 1998. Cerf has appeared on television programs NextWave with Leonard Nimoy and on World Business Review with Alexander Haig and Caspar Weinberger. Cerf also holds an appointment as distinguished visiting scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he is working on the design of an interplanetary Internet.
* Compensation Committee - Chairman
* Executive Committee - Member
* Executive Search Committee - Member
* Discussion Group for Geographic and Geopolitical Names - Member


Cerf sits on the Board of Directors for the Endowment for Excellence in Education, Folger Shakespeare Library, the [[MCI]] Foundation, the MarcoPolo Foundation, Avanex Corporation and the ClearSight Systems Corporation. Cerf is a Fellow of the IEEE, ACM, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the International Engineering Consortium, the Computer History Museum and the National Academy of Engineering.
===New gTLD Program===
===New gTLDs===
In November, 2011, Vint said that he was "nervous" about ICANN's new gTLD expansion program, which was set to proceed in a matter of months. Some of his concerns included the confusion created for end users, potential problems for trademark owners, and possible logistical issues especially with regards to any new gTLD operators going out of business. However, Dr. Cerf added that it seemed too late for any outside intervention in the program.<ref>[http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2011/11/former-icann-chairs-voice-conc.php Fomer ICANN Chair Voice Concern, TechDailyDose.NationalJournal.com]</ref>
In November, 2011, Vint Cerf noted that he was "nervous" of ICANN's planned gTLD expansion, which was to proceed in a matter of months. Some of his concerns included the confusion created for end users, potential problems for trademark owners, and possible logistical issues, especially with regards to any new gTLD operators going out of business. Mr. Cerf did added that it seemed too late for any outside intervention into the program, and that it would consequently be important to closely monitor the gTLD expansion process and fix any issues as they arise.<ref>[http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2011/11/former-icann-chairs-voice-conc.php Fomer ICANN Chair Voice Concern, TechDailyDose.NationalJournal.com]</ref>


===Stand on SOPA/PIPA===
==ISOC Involvement==
In December, 2011, Vint Cerf signed onto an open letter to the U.S. Congress sent by the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] that urged the legislature not to pass [[SOPA]] bills, which he and the 82 other signees believed would seriously hinder the future of the Internet, U.S. legitimacy with regards to Internet stewardship, and many industries tied together through the Internet, among other deleterious effects.<ref>[https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/12/internet-inventors-warn-against-sopa-and-pipa Internet Inventors Warn Against SOPA and PIPA, EFF.org]</ref>
Dr. Cerf was the founding president of the [[ISOC|Internet Society]], with a tenure from 1992 to 1995. In 1999, he was appointed  chairman of the board, which he held until 2001. After his chairmanship, he continued to serve the organization as member of the Internet Societal Task Force and in the steering group dedicated to evaluating local, national and international internet policies to create global Internet accessibility. He also served as the honorary chairman of the [[IPv6 Forum]], which was dedicated to increasing awareness and the speedy implementation of the new internet protocol.<ref>[http://www.internetsociety.org/who-we-are/people/vint-cerf Vint Cerf Board of Trustees 1992-2001]</ref>


==Recognition and Awards==
==Recognition and Awards==
Vinton Cerf is a recipient of numerous awards and commendations in connection with his work on the Internet. These include the Marconi Fellowship, Charles Stark Draper award of the National Academy of Engineering, the Prince of Asturias award for science and technology, the National Medal of Science from Tunisia, the Alexander Graham Bell Award presented by the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, the NEC Computer and Communications Prize, the Silver Medal of the International Telecommunications Union, the [[IEEE]] Alexander Graham Bell Medal <ref>[http://www.ieee.org/about/awards/medals/bell.html#sect3 IEEE]</ref>, the [[IEEE]] Koji Kobayashi Award, the [[ACM]] Software and Systems Award, the [[ACM]] SIGCOMM Award, the Computer and Communications Industries Association Industry Legend Award, the Yuri Rubinsky Web Award, the Kilby Award , the Yankee Group/Interop/Network World Lifetime Achievement Award, the George R. Stibitz Award, the Werner Wolter Award, the Andrew Saks Engineering Award, the [[IEEE]] Third Millennium Medal, the Computerworld/Smithsonian Leadership Award, the J.D. Edwards Leadership Award for Collaboration, World Institute on Disability Annual award and the Library of Congress Bicentennial Living Legend medal.
Vinton Cerf is a recipient of numerous awards and commendations in connection with his work on the Internet. These include the Marconi Fellowship, Charles Stark Draper Award of the National Academy of Engineering, the Prince of Asturias award for science and technology, the National Medal of Science from Tunisia, the Alexander Graham Bell Award presented by the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, the NEC Computer and Communications Prize, the Silver Medal of the International Telecommunications Union, the [[IEEE]] Alexander Graham Bell Medal<ref>[http://www.ieee.org/about/awards/medals/bell.html#sect3 IEEE]</ref>, the [[IEEE]] Koji Kobayashi Award, the [[ACM]] Software and Systems Award, the [[ACM]] SIGCOMM Award, the Computer and Communications Industries Association Industry Legend Award, the Yuri Rubinsky Web Award, the Kilby Award, the Yankee Group/Interop/Network World Lifetime Achievement Award, the George R. Stibitz Award, the Werner Wolter Award, the Andrew Saks Engineering Award, the [[IEEE]] Third Millennium Medal, the Computerworld/Smithsonian Leadership Award, the J.D. Edwards Leadership Award for Collaboration, World Institute on Disability Annual award and the Library of Congress Bicentennial Living Legend medal.
 
In December, 1997, President Clinton presented the U.S. National Medal of Technology to Cerf and his partner, [[Robert Kahn]], for founding and developing the Internet. <ref>[http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051109-10.html THE WHITE HOUSE]</ref>Drs. Kahn and Cerf were named the recipients of the ACM Alan M. Turing award in 2004 for their work on the Internet protocols. The Turing award is sometimes called the "Nobel Prize of Computer Science".<ref>[http://awards.acm.org/homepage.cfm?srt=all&awd=140 ACM.org]</ref>


In December 1997, President Clinton presented the U.S. National Medal of Technology to Cerf and his partner, [[Robert Kahn]], for founding and developing the Internet. <ref>[http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051109-10.html THE WHITE HOUSE]</ref>. Kahn and Cerf were named the recipients of the ACM Alan M. Turing award in 2004 for their work on the Internet protocols. The Turing award is sometimes called the "Nobel Prize of Computer Science". <ref>[http://awards.acm.org/homepage.cfm?srt=all&awd=140 ACM.org]</ref>
In December, 1994, People magazine identified Cerf as one of that year's "25 Most Intriguing People."  


In December, 1994, People magazine identified Cerf as one of that year's "25 Most Intriguing People."
Dr. Cerf has been humble with regards to both sharing credit of the "invention" of the Internet, and aware of the large number of people who contributed to its development, both before and after himself. He has been quoted as saying that building a tool is one thing, but credit for what people do with that tool is something that no inventor can claim.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/technology/16internet.html?pagewanted=2 NYTimes.com]</ref>
Dr. Cerf has been humble with regards to both sharing credit of the "invention" of the Internet, and aware of the large number of people who contributed to its development, both before and after himself. He has been quoted as saying that building a tool is one thing, but credit for what people do with that tool is something that no inventor can claim.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/technology/16internet.html?pagewanted=2 NYTimes.com]</ref>


==Values==
==Positions on Different Internet Issues==
As one of the most widely respected and well-known Internet evangelists, Dr. Cerf takes vocal stands on a number of ICT and Internet Governance issues, including:
As one of the most widely respected and well-known Internet evangelists, Dr. Cerf takes vocal stands on a number of ICT and Internet Governance issues, including:


* Vint Cerf believes in the need for anybody to remain anonymous or pseudonymous on the Internet; he believes this needs to also be supported by strong authentication tools.  
* Privacy rights- he believes anybody has the right to remain anonymous or use pseudonymous online and this needs to be supported by strong authentication tools.  
* He argued that unnecessary patents can stifle innovation, and noted that the Internet would not have experienced such rapid and robust development had he and his partners tried to protect its design.<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2011/11/14/vint-cerf/#.TsGmctgvSD8.twitter VentureBeat.com]</ref>
* In an Op-ed piece in the New York Times, found [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/opinion/internet-access-is-not-a-human-right.html here], Vint declares that the Internet itself is not a human right, but notes that technology is an enabler of a broad range of other rights. He notes that tools and values change, but that human rights are indispensable and universal. He goes on to describe technology and Internet access as more akin to a civil right, but is clear that he believes it is not yet a civil right. He ends by noting that it is in the hands of those that empower technology, such as legislators and engineers, to ensure that the Internet can thrive as a tool to access and achieve one's civil and human rights.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/opinion/internet-access-is-not-a-human-right.html Internet Access is Not a Human Right]</ref>
 
===Stand on SOPA/PIPA===
In December, 2011, Vint Cerf signed an open letter, along with 82 internet engineers, that was sent to the U.S. Congress by the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] urging Congress not to pass [[SOPA]] and [[PIPA]] legislation. The letter explained how the legislation would seriously harm the security and stability of the internet and the future of development and innovation of the Internet.<ref>[https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/12/internet-inventors-warn-against-sopa-and-pipa Internet Inventors Warn Against SOPA and PIPA, EFF.org]</ref>
 
==Other Activities==
Dr. Cerf also served as a technical advisor to production for "Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict" <ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0148576/ IMDB]</ref>and made a special guest appearance on the program in May, 1998. He appeared on the television programs NextWave with Leonard Nimoy and on World Business Review with Alexander Haig and Caspar Weinberger. He is a distinguished visiting scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory working on the design of the interplanetary Internet.
 
Cerf is a member of the Board of Directors of the Endowment for Excellence in Education, Folger Shakespeare Library, the [[MCI]] Foundation, the MarcoPolo Foundation, Avanex Corporation and the ClearSight Systems Corporation. Cerf is a Fellow of the IEEE, ACM, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the International Engineering Consortium, the Computer History Museum and the National Academy of Engineering.<ref>[http://www.atlarge.icann.org/naralo/san-francisco-outreach/keynote.htm Keynote Speaker: Dr. Vinton Cerf]</ref>


* Mr. Cerf has argued that unnecessary patents can stifle innovation, and noted that the Internet would not have experienced such rapid and robust development had he and his partners tried to protect its design.<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2011/11/14/vint-cerf/#.TsGmctgvSD8.twitter VentureBeat.com]</ref>
==Publications==
Dr. Cerf authored and co-authored numerous publications which include:
* Vint Cerf, Van Jacobson, Nicholas Weaver, Jim Gettys: BufferBloat: What's Wrong with the Internet? (2012)
* Vinton G. Cerf: Emergent Properties, Human Rights, and the Internet. IEEE Internet Computing  (2012)
* Vinton G. Cerf: Defense against the Dark Arts. IEEE Internet Computing (2012)
* Thomas A. Limoncelli, Vinton G. Cerf: Successful Strategies for IPv6 Rollouts. Really.  (2011)
* Vinton G. Cerf: Secure Identities. IEEE Internet Computing  (2011)
* Vinton G. Cerf: Taking internet's temperature: prescriptions for the 21st century.
* Vinton G. Cerf: Requirements for the Internet.
* Vinton G. Cerf: Digital Government and the Internet. 2002
* Robert E. Kahn and Vinton G. Cerf, "What Is The Internet (And What Makes It Work)", Internet Policy Institute, December, 1999
*  V. G. Cerf, "Our Digital Future," The NOVA Reader; Science at the Turn of the Millennium, TVBooks, 1999


* In an Op-ed piece in the New York Times, found [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/opinion/internet-access-is-not-a-human-right.html here], Vint declares that the Internet itself is not a human right, but notes that technology is an enabler of a broad range of other rights. He notes that tools and values change, but that human rights are indispensable and universal. He goes on to describe technology and Internet access as more akin to a civil right, but is clear that he believes it is not yet a civil right. He ends by noting that it is in the hands of those that empower technology, such as legislators and engineers, to ensure that the Internet can thrive as a tool to access and achieve one's civil and human rights.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/opinion/internet-access-is-not-a-human-right.html Internet Access is Not a Human Right]</ref>
A list of all his publications are available at the [http://www.informatik.uni-trier.de/~ley/db/indices/a-tree/c/Cerf:Vinton_G=.html '''DBLP Bibliography Server'''] and [http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/cerf-testimony-08feb01-en.htm#Vita '''here'''].
 
==List of RFC Contributions==
Dr. Cerf wrote the following entertaining RFCs:<ref>[http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ia_rfc_fun.htm Entertaining Request For Comments (RFC's)]</ref>
* RFC 968- Twas the Night Before Start-up; December, 1985
* RFC 1121- Leonard Kleinrock, Vinton Cerf, Barry Boehm; Act One-The Poems; September, 1989; Presented at the Act One symposium held on the 20th anniversary of the ARPANET
* RFC 1217-Memo from the Consortium for Slow Commotion Research (CSCR); April 1st, 1991; in response to RFC 1216
* RFC 1607-A View From The 21st Century; April 1st, 1994


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
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{{reflist}}</div>


[[category: People]]
[[category: USA]]
[[category: USA]]
[[Category:Technical Community]]
[[Category:Former ICANN Board]]
[[Category:Internet Pioneers]]

Latest revision as of 17:41, 8 July 2021
Country: USA
Formerly a member
of the ICANN Board


Featured in the ICANN 51 - Los Angeles playing card deck

Dr. Vinton G. (Vint) Cerf is a computer scientist and widely recognized as one of the "Fathers of the Internet."" He was one of the inventors of the internet architecture and co-designer of the basic protocols (TCP/IP) along with Robert Kahn. He serves as vice president and chief internet evangelist for Google and his primary responsibility is to identify new enabling technologies to support the development of advanced internet-based products and services for the company.[1] [2] [3] He is also currently involved in the Interplanetary Internet Project.[4]

His personal interests include fine wine, gourmet cooking and science fiction. Mr. Cerf and his wife, Sigrid, were married in 1966 and have two sons, David and Bennett.

"The internet is a reflection of our society and that mirror is going to be reflecting what we see. If we do not like what we see in that mirror the problem is not to fix the mirror, we have to fix society." ―Vint Cerf―

Education[edit | edit source]

Vinton Cerf received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Stanford University and Master of Science and doctorate degrees in Computer Science from UCLA. He also holds honorary Doctorate degrees from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich; Lulea University of Technology, Sweden; Royal Roads University, Canada; University of the Balearic Islands, Palma; Capitol College, Maryland; Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania; George Mason University, Virginia; Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona, Spain; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York; the University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands; Brooklyn Polytechnic; and the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. [5]

Career History[edit | edit source]

Early Career: From IBM to UCLA[edit | edit source]

After receiving his degree in Mathematics at Stanford University in 1965, Vint joined IBM as systems engineer on the QUIKTRAN time-sharing system project. In 1966, he started providing computer communications consultancy services for different companies and organizations including the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Defense Information Systems Agency, MCI Communications Corp., the National Security Agency, the IEEE, etc. He left IBM in 1967 and joined the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) Computer Science Department as the principal programmer. Vint managed several projects at UCLA such as the ARPANET Network Measurement Center, and a video graphics project involving computer-controlled 16 mm camera. He also participated in the development of the ARPANET host protocol specifications. He left UCLA in 1972.[6]

Tenure at Stanford University[edit | edit source]

From UCLA, Cerf moved to Stanford University's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department as assistant professor. He taught classes in operating systems, algorithms & data structures as well as networking. During his tenure at the university, he also conducted research on packet network interconnection protocols and joined Robert Kahn as principal investigator and co-designer of the next generation networking protocol project for the ARPANET. In 1973, they distributed the draft of the paper entitled: "A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication" during the INWG special meeting at Sussex University in 1973 and eventually published the final research IEEE Transactions of Communications Technology 1974. Cerf and Kahn successfully designed the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).[7] [8] He later volunteered to serve as Chairman of the International Network Working Group, which was modeled on the ARPANET's Network Working Group. Its main objective was to develop common technical standards that would allow any computer to connect to the ARPANET.[9] Vint ended his teaching career at Stanford in 1976.

Role at DARPA (1976-1982)[edit | edit source]

In 1976, Cerf accepted the position offered by DARPA to serve as program manager. He later became a principal scientist of the agency. At DARPA, he continued working with Robert Khan on networking and TCP/IP protocols. They demonstrated how the internet works through the ARPANET, Packet Radio net and SATNET. To prove the international viability of the TCP/IP protocols, the team sent messages from a van in the bay area, across the United States on ARPANET, and on to the University College of London and back via satellite. In 1983, the TCP/IP protocol became the standard protocol for the ARPANET, which went on to became the Internet. During his tenure at the agency, from 1976 to 1982, Cerf played a key role in leading the development of the Internet, including related data packet and security technologies. [10] [11]

Career at MCI Worldcom[edit | edit source]

From 1982-1986, he served as vice president of the Digital Information Services of MCI. During his time at the company, he led a team of engineers responsible for the development and implementation of MCI mail, which became the first commercial e-mail service connected to the Internet. In 1994, he rejoined MCI as Senior Vice President of Data Architecture responsible for the architectural design of the company's data and information services. He later became the company's Senior Vice President for Internet Architecture and Engineering, leading a team of architects and engineers in designing advanced networking, internet systems and security applications. He spearheaded the technology that combined voice, data and internet. He resigned as Senior Vice President for Technology Strategy of the company in 2005 to serve as Google's Chief Internet Evangelist.[12] [13]

Chief internet Evangelist (Google)[edit | edit source]

Since 2005, Cerf has served as Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google. He is responsible for helping the company to build network infrastructure, architectures, systems and standards for next generation internet applications. He also serves as the company's representative to the global Internet community on different issues.[14] [15]

ICANN Involvement[edit | edit source]

Vinton Cerf served as chairman of the board of ICANN from 2000 to 2007.[16] In 1999, he was a member of the ICANN Board of Directors, having been selected by the Protocol Supporting Organization (PSO).[17] He was selected by the Nominating Committee (NomCom) to the Board of Directors from 2003 to 2004.[18] During his term as chairman, he led the internet governing body in the introduction and promotion of retail competition in the registration of domain names, the development and implementation of the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), expansion of new generic top level domain names (gTLDs) in 2000 and 2003, implementation of Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), and other achievements.[19][20]

He also served in the following ICANN Committees/Groups:[21]

  • Compensation Committee - Chairman
  • Executive Committee - Member
  • Executive Search Committee - Member
  • Discussion Group for Geographic and Geopolitical Names - Member

New gTLD Program[edit | edit source]

In November, 2011, Vint said that he was "nervous" about ICANN's new gTLD expansion program, which was set to proceed in a matter of months. Some of his concerns included the confusion created for end users, potential problems for trademark owners, and possible logistical issues especially with regards to any new gTLD operators going out of business. However, Dr. Cerf added that it seemed too late for any outside intervention in the program.[22]

ISOC Involvement[edit | edit source]

Dr. Cerf was the founding president of the Internet Society, with a tenure from 1992 to 1995. In 1999, he was appointed chairman of the board, which he held until 2001. After his chairmanship, he continued to serve the organization as member of the Internet Societal Task Force and in the steering group dedicated to evaluating local, national and international internet policies to create global Internet accessibility. He also served as the honorary chairman of the IPv6 Forum, which was dedicated to increasing awareness and the speedy implementation of the new internet protocol.[23]

Recognition and Awards[edit | edit source]

Vinton Cerf is a recipient of numerous awards and commendations in connection with his work on the Internet. These include the Marconi Fellowship, Charles Stark Draper Award of the National Academy of Engineering, the Prince of Asturias award for science and technology, the National Medal of Science from Tunisia, the Alexander Graham Bell Award presented by the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, the NEC Computer and Communications Prize, the Silver Medal of the International Telecommunications Union, the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal[24], the IEEE Koji Kobayashi Award, the ACM Software and Systems Award, the ACM SIGCOMM Award, the Computer and Communications Industries Association Industry Legend Award, the Yuri Rubinsky Web Award, the Kilby Award, the Yankee Group/Interop/Network World Lifetime Achievement Award, the George R. Stibitz Award, the Werner Wolter Award, the Andrew Saks Engineering Award, the IEEE Third Millennium Medal, the Computerworld/Smithsonian Leadership Award, the J.D. Edwards Leadership Award for Collaboration, World Institute on Disability Annual award and the Library of Congress Bicentennial Living Legend medal.

In December, 1997, President Clinton presented the U.S. National Medal of Technology to Cerf and his partner, Robert Kahn, for founding and developing the Internet. [25]Drs. Kahn and Cerf were named the recipients of the ACM Alan M. Turing award in 2004 for their work on the Internet protocols. The Turing award is sometimes called the "Nobel Prize of Computer Science".[26]

In December, 1994, People magazine identified Cerf as one of that year's "25 Most Intriguing People."

Dr. Cerf has been humble with regards to both sharing credit of the "invention" of the Internet, and aware of the large number of people who contributed to its development, both before and after himself. He has been quoted as saying that building a tool is one thing, but credit for what people do with that tool is something that no inventor can claim.[27]

Positions on Different Internet Issues[edit | edit source]

As one of the most widely respected and well-known Internet evangelists, Dr. Cerf takes vocal stands on a number of ICT and Internet Governance issues, including:

  • Privacy rights- he believes anybody has the right to remain anonymous or use pseudonymous online and this needs to be supported by strong authentication tools.
  • He argued that unnecessary patents can stifle innovation, and noted that the Internet would not have experienced such rapid and robust development had he and his partners tried to protect its design.[28]
  • In an Op-ed piece in the New York Times, found here, Vint declares that the Internet itself is not a human right, but notes that technology is an enabler of a broad range of other rights. He notes that tools and values change, but that human rights are indispensable and universal. He goes on to describe technology and Internet access as more akin to a civil right, but is clear that he believes it is not yet a civil right. He ends by noting that it is in the hands of those that empower technology, such as legislators and engineers, to ensure that the Internet can thrive as a tool to access and achieve one's civil and human rights.[29]

Stand on SOPA/PIPA[edit | edit source]

In December, 2011, Vint Cerf signed an open letter, along with 82 internet engineers, that was sent to the U.S. Congress by the Electronic Frontier Foundation urging Congress not to pass SOPA and PIPA legislation. The letter explained how the legislation would seriously harm the security and stability of the internet and the future of development and innovation of the Internet.[30]

Other Activities[edit | edit source]

Dr. Cerf also served as a technical advisor to production for "Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict" [31]and made a special guest appearance on the program in May, 1998. He appeared on the television programs NextWave with Leonard Nimoy and on World Business Review with Alexander Haig and Caspar Weinberger. He is a distinguished visiting scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory working on the design of the interplanetary Internet.

Cerf is a member of the Board of Directors of the Endowment for Excellence in Education, Folger Shakespeare Library, the MCI Foundation, the MarcoPolo Foundation, Avanex Corporation and the ClearSight Systems Corporation. Cerf is a Fellow of the IEEE, ACM, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the International Engineering Consortium, the Computer History Museum and the National Academy of Engineering.[32]

Publications[edit | edit source]

Dr. Cerf authored and co-authored numerous publications which include:

  • Vint Cerf, Van Jacobson, Nicholas Weaver, Jim Gettys: BufferBloat: What's Wrong with the Internet? (2012)
  • Vinton G. Cerf: Emergent Properties, Human Rights, and the Internet. IEEE Internet Computing (2012)
  • Vinton G. Cerf: Defense against the Dark Arts. IEEE Internet Computing (2012)
  • Thomas A. Limoncelli, Vinton G. Cerf: Successful Strategies for IPv6 Rollouts. Really. (2011)
  • Vinton G. Cerf: Secure Identities. IEEE Internet Computing (2011)
  • Vinton G. Cerf: Taking internet's temperature: prescriptions for the 21st century.
  • Vinton G. Cerf: Requirements for the Internet.
  • Vinton G. Cerf: Digital Government and the Internet. 2002
  • Robert E. Kahn and Vinton G. Cerf, "What Is The Internet (And What Makes It Work)", Internet Policy Institute, December, 1999
  • V. G. Cerf, "Our Digital Future," The NOVA Reader; Science at the Turn of the Millennium, TVBooks, 1999

A list of all his publications are available at the DBLP Bibliography Server and here.

List of RFC Contributions[edit | edit source]

Dr. Cerf wrote the following entertaining RFCs:[33]

  • RFC 968- Twas the Night Before Start-up; December, 1985
  • RFC 1121- Leonard Kleinrock, Vinton Cerf, Barry Boehm; Act One-The Poems; September, 1989; Presented at the Act One symposium held on the 20th anniversary of the ARPANET
  • RFC 1217-Memo from the Consortium for Slow Commotion Research (CSCR); April 1st, 1991; in response to RFC 1216
  • RFC 1607-A View From The 21st Century; April 1st, 1994

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ mondostars
  2. ↑ Persona
  3. ↑ Living Internet
  4. ↑ ICANN, CNN.com
  5. ↑ Vinton G. Cerf Ph.D.-Executive Profile
  6. ↑ Vinton Cerf Curriculum Vitae
  7. ↑ Vinton Cerf Curriculum Vitae
  8. ↑ Cerf -- TCP/IP Co-Designer
  9. ↑ INWG and the Conception of the Internet: An Eyewitness Account
  10. ↑ Computer History Museum
  11. ↑ Vinton Cerf TCP/IP Protocol
  12. ↑ Vinton Cerf Curriculum Vitae
  13. ↑ Web pioneer signing on with Google
  14. ↑ Cerf’s up at Google
  15. ↑ Vinton G. Cerf | Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist
  16. ↑ Keynote Speaker: Dr. Vinton Cerf
  17. ↑ Directors Named by Protocol Supporting Organization (PSO)
  18. ↑ Nomcom Stacks Board With Insiders (plus Corporate Executives)
  19. ↑ Testimony of Vint Cerf Before U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce
  20. ↑ Vint Cerf's Keynote at Domain Roundtable
  21. ↑ 2007-11-02 - Thanks to Vint Cerf
  22. ↑ Fomer ICANN Chair Voice Concern, TechDailyDose.NationalJournal.com
  23. ↑ Vint Cerf Board of Trustees 1992-2001
  24. ↑ IEEE
  25. ↑ THE WHITE HOUSE
  26. ↑ ACM.org
  27. ↑ NYTimes.com
  28. ↑ VentureBeat.com
  29. ↑ Internet Access is Not a Human Right
  30. ↑ Internet Inventors Warn Against SOPA and PIPA, EFF.org
  31. ↑ IMDB
  32. ↑ Keynote Speaker: Dr. Vinton Cerf
  33. ↑ Entertaining Request For Comments (RFC's)
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