John L. Hennessy — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Recipient of the 2017 Turing Award for developing the reduced instruction set computer (RISC) architecture, now used in 99% of new computer chips.
Serves as the chairman of Alphabet Inc.
Co-founder of MIPS Technologies and Atheros.
Served as the 10th president of Stanford University from 2000 to 2016.
Called "the godfather of Silicon Valley" by Marc Andreessen.

Biography

John L. Hennessy is an American computer scientist and the chairman of Alphabet Inc. He is recognized for his pivotal work in developing the reduced instruction set computer (RISC) architecture, a contribution for which he, along with David Patterson, received the 2017 Turing Award. The RISC architecture is currently utilized in 99% of new computer chips.

Hennessy is a co-founder of two significant technology companies, MIPS Technologies and Atheros.