Dr. Randy Katz

Randy H. Katz received his A.B. degree, with highest honors, in Computer Science and Mathematics from Cornell University in 1976. He received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1978 and 1980 respectively. After a year in industry, he joined the Computer Sciences Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison as an Assistant Professor. He moved to the University of California, Berkeley in 1983, where he now holds the United Microelectronics Corporation Distinguished Professorship in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He also serves as the first computer scientist to chair the EECS Department.

Professor Katz is a leading researcher in computer system design and implementation. His research experience has spanned numerous disciplines. He has written over 150 technical publications on CAD, database management, multiprocessor architectures, high performance storage systems, and video server architectures. He was one of the first researchers to understand the importance of electronic computer-aided design databases, exerting considerable influence on the architecture of design management systems developed first by MCC and later by the CAD Framework Initiative. This work led to two best presentation awards and one best paper award at the annual Design Automation Conference. He is also the author of the #1 best selling textbook on introductory hardware design, Contemporary Logic Design, with an emphasis on introducing computer-aided design techniques at an early stage. Over 50,000 copies have been sold to date, and the book is in use at over 200 colleges and universities worldwide.

Under ARPA sponsorship, he led the implementation of the SPUR (Symbolic Processing Using RISCs) multiprocessor memory system, the first such system to integrate coherent multiprocessor cache memories with efficient virtual memory management. This project implemented the first "snooping cache" protocol that has subsequently been adapted and extended for virtual all of the multiprocessor workstation server systems on the market today.

Professor Katz was responsible for developing the concept of Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID), and under ARPA sponsorship, he led the implementation of the first large-scale RAID file server for high performance applications. RAID is now a $12 billion industry segment, and over 150 companies are marketing RAID products today. Berkeley is widely recognized for its development of RAID. In a recent National Research Council Report, RAID was identified as one of nine key information technologies that emerged from government-sponsored university research to create a multi-billion dollar industry.

Katz's recent research has focused on wireless communications, mobile computing applications, collaboration technology, and video archive systems. He played an early role in the Berkeley InfoPad Project, where he and his students took responsibility for the network architecture in support of the InfoPad. In 1995, he was awarded a DARPA contract to develop a wireless overlay internetworking architecture, making it possible to integrate in-building and wide-area wireless data networks. He is currently working with several companies, including Daimler Benz, Ericsson (data over cellular), Fuji Xerox, Hughes (direct broadcast satellite), Hybrid Networks (wireless cable), and Metricom (multi-hop packet radio), to deploy this overlay technology in a Bay Area testbed. In 1996, he received additional DARPA funding to develop room-sized collaboration technology. He has won three best paper awards for his work in mobile computing and collaboration technologies.

From January 1993 through December 1994, Katz was a program manager and deputy director of the Computing Systems Technology Office (now the Information Technology Office) of DARPA within the U. S. Department of Defense. He was responsible for founding and co-directing the Wireless, Adaptive, Mobile Information Systems (WAMIS) program, and was a untiring champion of wireless communications technologies within DARPA. He served as the DARPA representative to the Federal Wireless Policy Committee. He also assisted the Clinton Administration in formulating policies related to the National Information Infrastructure and wireless technologies. He participated in Vice President Gore's National Performance Review, serving on the team to "reengineer government through information technology." One of his key achievements during his Washington service was to oversee the connection of the White House to the Internet, and to establish electronic mail accounts for the President and the Vice President at WhiteHouse.Gov.

For an up to date biography of Randy Katz, please refer to his UC Berkeley webpage at http://bnrg.cs.berkeley.edu/~randy/