IHOF Nomination Kirk Lougheed – Nomination #499

Summary of Contributions (50 words)

Kirk Lougheed created BGP (1989), scaling internet routing. His 35-year legacy (1989–present) connects 5.3 billion web users (2023, ITU).

Impact (200 words)

Lougheed’s BGP (RFC 1105, 1989) enabled inter-AS routing, supporting 5.3 billion web users (2023, ITU). It scaled the internet from 80,000 hosts (1989) to over 1 billion, forming the web’s global backbone.

Influence (200 words)

Lougheed’s 35-year impact (1989–present) shaped IETF standards—his “two-napkin” draft (1989) influenced routing. At Cisco, he mentored engineers, guiding global network design.

Reach (200 words)

BGP spans 60,000+ ASes—5.3 billion users (2023, ITU) connect via Lougheed’s work. His 35-year legacy (1989–present) enabled your 1996 Digital Island network.

Innovation (200 words)

In 1989, Lougheed replaced EGP with BGP’s path vector routing—a bold leap. His 35-year work (1989–present) sustains 5.3 billion users’ web access.

Published Works

Lougheed’s RFC 1105 (1989) and IETF drafts define BGP. His “two-napkin” proposal (1989) and Cisco papers shaped routing—pure impact.

Honors and Awards

Lougheed’s Cisco legacy shines—no IHOF yet. 5.3 billion users (2023, ITU) rely on his work—ISOC should honor him.