John L. Hennessy wins 2026 Marconi Society Lifetime Achievement Award

The Marconi Society has selected Stanford professor and former university president John L. Hennessy for its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. He will be honored at the Marconi Awards Gala on Nov. 6 in San Francisco alongside Marconi Prize recipient Robert Calderbank.

Why it matters: - The award recognizes work that shaped modern computing and communications, including RISC architecture, WiFi, and major leadership in higher education. - Hennessy’s career spans research, industry, and university leadership, making him a high-profile choice for an award tied to long-term impact on technology and the people who build it.

What happened: - The Marconi Society named John L. Hennessy the recipient of the 2026 Marconi Society Lifetime Achievement Award. - Hennessy will be honored at the Marconi Awards Gala on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. - Professor Robert Calderbank will receive the 2026 Marconi Prize at the same gala.

The details: - Hennessy’s early work on Reduced Instruction Set Computer, or RISC, architecture at Stanford in the early 1980s changed processor design and helped shape modern computing. - Hennessy co-founded MIPS Computer Systems and later Atheros Communications, which helped bring WiFi into widespread use. - At Stanford, Hennessy served as chair of Computer Science, dean of Engineering, provost, and the university’s 10th president. - Stanford expanded financial aid under Hennessy’s leadership. - Hennessy also established Knight-Hennessy Scholars to prepare future leaders for major global challenges. - The Marconi Society said the award honors a career that reflects creative contributions and a positive impact on communications and on the careers of others. - Hennessy is currently chairman of Alphabet’s board and serves on the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation board. - Hennessy remains active with Knight-Hennessy Scholars and other students and is returning to teach an undergraduate engineering course at Stanford. - Hennessy has been on the Stanford faculty since 1977. - Hennessy and Dave Patterson won the ACM A.M. Turing Prize for 2017 and the National Academy of Engineering Draper Prize in 2022. - The gala is set for Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. - Gala participation and sponsorship inquiries go to Flora Tromelin at ftromelin@marconisociety.org or +1-480-828-6064. - More information is available on the Marconi Society website. - The Marconi Society’s LinkedIn page is here.

Between the lines: - The selection links Hennessy’s technical contributions with his influence on institutions and talent development. - The award also reinforces the Marconi Society’s focus on leadership that combines innovation with public benefit.

What’s next: - Hennessy will be formally recognized at the Nov. 6 gala in San Francisco. - The Marconi Society is expected to continue spotlighting winners whose work affects both technology and society.

The bottom line: - The 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award places Hennessy among the Marconi Society’s most influential figures in technology and education.