UCLA Engineering Alumnus and Internet Pioneer Vint Cerf Featured in Wall Street Journal

Vint Cerf, M.S. ’70, Ph.D. ’72, who along with Robert Kahn developed the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) that has allowed computers to exchange data and sparked the creation of today’s internet, was profiled by the Wall Street Journal.

Titled “Vint Cerf Helped Create the Internet on the Back of an Envelope,” the article was published in the journal’s Dec. 17, 2022 print edition. It highlighted Cerf’s personal and professional journey, including his decision to become a scientist when he was just 10 years old.

The feature detailed Cerf’s fascination with computers at a young age and shared his insights on the commercialization of the internet that has changed everyday life. While Cerf credits the internet for its positive impact on society, he also acknowledges its unfortunate role in steering people to “more divisive and extreme stuff.” 

After graduating valedictorian from Van Nuys High School, Cerf did his undergraduate study at Stanford University before returning to Los Angeles to work at IBM. Wanting to learn more about the fundamentals of computing, Cerf later earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in computer science from UCLA. 

Cerf currently serves as the vice president and chief internet evangelist for Google, where he remains an authority on internet development, safety and security. He has also been a longtime columnist with the Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) monthly publication Communications of the ACM.

Among the many accolades Cerf has received over the years is a Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honor. Most recently, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) awarded him with the 2023 IEEE Medal of Honor, the international organization’s highest honor, for his contributions and sustained leadership in internet technologies.