Tom Leighton, MIT professor of Applied Mathematics and CSAIL principal investigator and Akamai CEO and co-founder, recently received the Technology & Engineering Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) for “pioneering the technologies that deliver compelling content to every device in our homes and pockets,” according to the organization.
Leighton is considered a pioneer in algorithms for network applications, having worked extensively on technology designed to improve content delivery networks. He has published over 100 papers on subjects including algorithms, cryptography, parallel architectures, and distributed computing, and has over 50 patented projects related to content delivery, internet protocols, algorithms for networks, cryptography, and digital rights management.
He also co-founded the CSAIL spin-off Akamai Technologies in 1998. Today, not only is Akamai the world’s leading content delivery network provider, but also a market leader in cybersecurity and an emerging leader in cloud computing. Leighton’s efforts at both MIT and Akamai have led to innovative technologies that have improved the security and speed of the Internet, including how we stream movies, TV, and live sports.
While Leighton’s known for his groundbreaking contributions to improving the Internet, his latest honor has him looking forward to incorporating the latest game-changing technology: AI. “As AI drives yet another transformation of how audiences discover and consume content, I am excited for Akamai to continue to power and protect the programming delivered, while also helping to shape the next generation of engaging entertainment experiences,” says Leighton.
Leighton is the latest recipient of the Technology & Engineering Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, which is handed out annually as part of The Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards. The honor recognizes those who demonstrate “excellence in a technical innovation” while also enhancing or revolutionizing the experience of viewers.
He will receive his Emmy alongside Akamai colleagues at the 76th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards Ceremony on December 4th at Prince George’s Ballroom in New York City.
Leighton previously received the IEEE John von Neumann Medal and Babbage Award. His other distinctions include the Marconi Prize, the MIT Entrepreneurship Award, the ACM-SIGACT Distinguished Service Prize, and being named as a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange (MITX) Innovators Hall of Fame and one of the Ten Top Technology Innovators by US News and World Report. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and a Member of the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Massachusetts Academy of Sciences.
