Vinton Gray (Vint) Cerf

Known as a "father of the Internet," Cerf is an American computer scientist whose contributions have been recognized with the National Medal of Technology, the Turing Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and membership in the National Academy of Engineering.

In the early days, Cerf served as a program manager for the US Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), funding various groups to develop TCP/IP technology. When the Internet began to transition to a commercial opportunity, he moved to MCI, where he was instrumental in the development of the first commercial email system (MCI Mail) connected to the Internet.

Cerf was also instrumental in the funding and formation of ICANN from the start. He waited in the wings for a year before stepping forward to join the ICANN Board, and eventually became its Chairman.

Cerf has served Google as its Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist since September 2005. In this role, he has become well known for his predictions on how technology would affect future society, encompassing such areas as artificial intelligence, environmentalism, the advent of IPv6, and the transformation of the television industry and its delivery model.