Computing Leadership in Retrospect

Abstract

The profession of computing is complex because it touches virtually every aspect of society rather than just being a narrowly focused area of research and education. As a new professional discipline, there have been growing pains, caused in part and at times by having an inadequate supply of leaders of various kinds. This talk will discuss various aspects of the computing profession, including research, teaching, government service, professional activities, transfer of ideas from the universities into the commercial sector, building an adequate workforce, and creating an international scientific community. The presentation will focus on today through the lens of history, trying to show how leadership makes a difference and the effect of an inadequate supply of leaders. Most, but not all of the examples will be drawn from the United States.