Gerald J. Popek

Infobox_Scientist
name = Gerald J. Popek
death_date = Death date and age|2008|6|20|1947|1|1
field = Computer Scientist
work_institution = UCLA
Locus Computing Corporation
United Online
alma_mater = New York University
Harvard University
known_for = Popek and Goldberg virtualization requirements

Gerald J. Popek (Jerry Popek, "c." 1947 – 20 July, 2008) was an American Computer Scientist, known for his research on Operating Systems and virtualization.

With Robert P. Goldberg he proposed the Popek and Goldberg virtualization requirementsCitation
author = Popek, Gerald J.
year = 1973
title = Formal requirements for virtualizable third generation architectures
pages = 121
doi = 10.1145/800009.808061] ,a set of conditions necessary for a computer architecture to support system virtualisation.

Biography

Gerald Popek graduated from New York University in 1968 with a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering. [cite web
url=http://www.lasr.cs.ucla.edu/lasr-members/popek/index.html
title=Popek's page at the UCLA Laboratory for Advanced Systems Research
accessdate=2008-09-23]

In 1970 he completed an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from Harvard.

In 1973 he completed a Ph.D, also in Applied Mathematics at Harvard and moved to UCLA.

At UCLA he worked on virtualisation, network security, reliable operating systems and Databases. He became Director of the Center for Experimental Computer Science.

Around 1980 he worked on the LOCUS distributed operating systemcitation
author = Popek, G.
year = 1981
title = LOCUS a network transparent, high reliability distributed system
journal = ACM SIGOPS Operating Systems Review
volume = 15
pages = 169
doi = 10.1145/1067627.806605] ,an early implementation of the single-system image idea.

Between April 1981 and June 1983 Popek served on the DARPA "steering committee" for BSD UNIX formed by Duane Adams of DARPA to guide the design work leading to 4.2BSD. Other members of the committee were Bob Fabry, Bill Joy and Sam Leffler from UCB, Alan Nemeth and Rob Gurwitz from BBN, Dennis Ritchie from Bell Labs, Keith Lantz from Stanford, Rick Rashid from Carnegie-Mellon, Bert Halstead from MIT and Dan Lynch from ISI. [cite web
url=http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/network/2000/03/17/bsd.html?page=2
title=20 Years of Berkeley Unix: From AT&T-Owned to Freely Redistributable - DARPA Support|accessdate=2008-09-23
publisher=O'Reilly]

In order to pursue the commercial opportunities of LOCUS he formed the Locus Computing Corporation in 1982, taking on the rolesof CTO and Chairman. [cite web
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4804/is_198911/ai_n17443977
title=Locus Computing Corp. (company profile)
accessdate=2008-09-23]

In 1995 Locus was acquired by Platinum Technology Inc. in a share swap. [cite web
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_/ai_17195055
title=PLATINUM technology And Locus Computing Finalize Acquisition; Locus Computing officially becomes a PLATINUM technology subsidiary] Dr Popek took on the role of CTO of Platinum.

In 1999 he left Platinum to become CTO of CarsDirect.com, "the first Internet car company" [cite web
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_Sept_8/ai_55682064
title=CarsDirect.com Names Internet Pioneer New Chief Technology Officer; Gerald Popek Joins from Platinum Technology to Lead Technology Team at First Internet Car Company
accessdate=2008-09-24]

In 2000 he left CarsDirect.com to join NetZero also as CTO [cite web
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_Oct_23/ai_66267200
title=NetZero Names Internet Pioneer Gerald Popek New Chief Technology Officer; Former CarsDirect.com Executive To Lead Technology Team for Leading Free ISP
accessdate=2008-09-24]

In 2001 NetZero merged with it's competitor Juno to form United Online Inc. [cite web
url=http://news.cnet.com/NetZero,-Juno-to-unite-in-merger/2100-1033_3-268057.html
title=NetZero, Juno to unite in merger
accessdate=2008-09-24] and Dr Popek became Executive Vice President and CTO of the new company. [cite web
url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=549593
title=EXECUTIVE PROFILE Gerald J. Popek Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, United Online Inc.]

References

External Links

* [http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/news/2008/popek_memoriam.htm In Memoriam: Gerald J. Popek]

Persondata
NAME= Popek, Gerald J.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Computer Science
DATE OF BIRTH=1947
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=20 July 2008
PLACE OF DEATH=Bel Air, Los Angeles, California