Emmit McHenry
Emmit McHenry (born July 12, 1943) is an American entrepreneur, engineer, and technology pioneer known for his contributions to the internet. He founded Network Solutions, Inc. in 1995, which became the first company to register domain names, playing a crucial role in the development of the domain name system (DNS), making the internet more user-friendly.
Early life and education
[edit]Emmit McHenry was born in Forrest City, Arkansas, and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the historic Greenwood District, which was widely known as "Black Wall Street", a hub of Black entrepreneurship before the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. McHenry attended Stewart Elementary, Carver Middle School, and Booker T. Washington High School. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in communications from the University of Denver in 1966 and later completed a Master of Science at Northwestern University in 1979.[1][2]
Military career
[edit]McHenry served in the United States Marine Corps, where he worked in the Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) systems division. His service in the Marines helped foster his leadership skills and technological expertise. In recognition of his contributions to military technology, McHenry was honored by the Marine Corps as a Guest of Honor.[3]
Career
[edit]McHenry began his career at IBM as a systems engineer, later moving into executive positions at AT&T. In 1995, he co-founded Network Solutions, Inc., alongside Gary Desler, Ty Grigsby, and Ed Peters. The company revolutionized the internet by becoming the first entity authorized by the National Science Foundation to oversee the registration of domain names. This was a key moment in the commercialization of the internet, making it easier for people to navigate using human-readable domain names instead of complex IP addresses.[4] Network Solutions was acquired by Verisign in 1997 for over $21 billion.[5]
McHenry's work on the domain name system (DNS) was instrumental in the expansion of the internet. The DNS system allows users to navigate websites through user-friendly domain names rather than numeric IP addresses, dramatically simplifying the internet experience. His contributions helped lay the foundation for the web’s growth and accessibility.[6]
Following his success with Network Solutions, McHenry launched other business ventures, including Archura and Defense Manufacturing, where he currently serves as chairman and CEO. These companies focus on telecommunications and defense technologies.[7]
Teaching
[edit]In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, McHenry has contributed to academia as an assistant dean at Northwestern University. His teaching and mentorship have been part of his professional life, and he remains committed to helping young professionals develop their leadership and technical skills.[8]
Community service and philanthropy
[edit]McHenry is an advocate for increasing diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. He supports mentoring programs aimed at helping underrepresented groups succeed in technology and entrepreneurship. His philanthropic work includes initiatives to bridge the digital divide and promote access to technology and education in underserved communities.[9]
Recognition
[edit]McHenry has been recognized for his contributions to technology and business. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Shaw University, and the U.S. Marine Corps honored him for his contributions to military technology. His work in developing the modern internet remains his most enduring legacy.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Shaw, Anson. "Emmit McHenry: Pioneer of Internet Domain Names." Black Enterprise, September 22, 2016.
- ^ Interview with Emmit McHenry, The HistoryMakers, January 27, 2012.
- ^ "Emmit McHenry Honored by U.S. Marine Corps for C4 Contributions." Military.com, March 15, 2007.
- ^ "Emmit McHenry and the Development of the DNS." The Internet Society, March 22, 2020.
- ^ Verisign Acquisition of Network Solutions, Inc., CNN Money, February 6, 1997.
- ^ "The Domain Name System: A Key Innovation for the Internet," TechCrunch, June 3, 2005.
- ^ Johnson, Angela. "Meet the McHenrys: A Family of Entrepreneurs." Forbes, April 16, 2021
- ^ "Emmit McHenry on Education and Mentorship." Northwestern University Magazine, August 12, 2008
- ^ "Bridging the Digital Divide: McHenry's Philanthropic Efforts." The Root, November 15, 2019.
- ^ "Emmit McHenry Receives Honorary Doctorate from Shaw University." Shaw University Press Release, May 10, 2014
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