Jack Dennis

Who is Jack Dennis?

Jack Bonnell Dennis is a computer scientist and Emeritus Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at MIT.

Dennis graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as Bachelor of Sciences, Master of Sciences, and Doctor in Sciences. His doctoral thesis analyzed the relation between mathematical programming problems and electrical networks. After completing his doctorate, Dennis became part of the MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science's faculty, being promoted to full professor in 1969.

The work of Dennis in computer systems and languages is recognized to have played a key role in hacker culture, and as a faculty member he sponsored easier access to computer facilities at MIT during the early development of the subculture. Dennis was a member of the historic Tech Model Railroad Club, which incubated much of the early slang and traditions of hacking.

Dennis was one of the founders of the pioneering Multics project. His most important contribution to this project was the concept of the single-level memory. Multics was not fully successful as a commercial project, but it was important because it influenced the design of many other computer operating systems, including inspiration for Ken Thompson to design Unix. In recognition of his work on the Multics project, Dennis was elected as IEEE Fellow.