Robert Metcalfe

Robert "Bob" Melancton Metcalfe (born April 7, 1946)[2][3] is an American engineer and entrepreneur who contributed to the development of the internet in the 1970s. He co-invented Ethernet, co-founded 3Com, and formulated Metcalfe's law, which describes the effect of a telecommunications network. Metcalfe has also made several predictions which failed to come to pass, including forecasting the demise of the internet during the 1990s.

Quick facts: Robert Metcalfe, Born, Alma mater, Known... ▼

Robert Metcalfe
Metcalfe in 2004
Born	Robert Melancton Metcalfe (1946-04-07) April 7, 1946 (age 77) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (SB–SB) Harvard University (MS, PhD)
Known for	Internet pioneer Ethernet inventor 3Com founder Metcalfe's law
Spouse	Robyn
Children	2
Awards	National Medal of Technology IEEE Medal of Honor Internet Hall of Fame IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal (1988) ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award Marconi Prize (2003) Computer History Museum Fellow Awards (2008)[1] Turing Award (2022)
Scientific career
Fields	Computer networking Computer science
Institutions	Massachusetts Institute of Technology Xerox PARC 3Com IDG/InfoWord Polaris Venture Partners University of Texas at Austin
Thesis	Packet Communication (1973)
Doctoral advisor	Jeffrey P. Buzen

Metcalfe has received various awards, including the IEEE Medal of Honor and National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his work developing Ethernet technology. In 2023, he received the Turing Award, the highest distinction in computer science.[4] From 2011 to 2021, he was professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Austin.[5]