Ken Ford,

Kenneth Ford is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), a not-for-profit research institute located in Pensacola and Ocala, Florida. IHMC is recognized as one of the nation’s leading research organizations, focusing on technological systems that enhance human cognition, perception, locomotion, and resilience. Dr. Ford holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Tulane University and has authored hundreds of scientific papers and six books.

Key Highlights

• Research Interests: Artificial intelligence, cognitive science, human-centered computing, and entrepreneurship in government and academia
• Fellowships: Dr. Ford is a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and a charter Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
• NASA Leadership: He directed NASA’s Center of Excellence in Information Technology and received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1999

Key Achievements

• Awards:
  • Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Bordeaux (2005)
  • Robert Englemore Memorial Award for contributions to artificial intelligence (2008)
  • Outstanding Alumnus from Tulane University (2012)
  • Distinguished Service Award from AAAI (2015)
  • Induction into the Florida Inventor’s Hall of Fame (2017)
  • NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal (2010)
• National Science Board: Nominated by President George W. Bush in 2002 and confirmed in 2003
• Advisory Roles: Served on various boards including the Air Force Science Advisory Board, NASA Advisory Council (Chairman from 2008 to 2011), Defense Science Board, and the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence
• Recognition: Named one of Florida Trend Magazine's Living Legends in 2020