One of the most visible and well-known global leaders and strategists in the Internet and telecom world today, Tony Rutkowski's career spans 30 years of diverse experience and education in the business, public, and education sectors, in many different facets of the computer networking, telecom, publishing, and mass media industries, domestically and internationally. He is an engineer-lawyer.
Named Executive Director of the Internet Society in February 1994 after co-conceiving the Society in 1991, and serving as Vice-President and founding trustee for two years. He created and scaled its headquarters and international secretariat as a model "Internet-empowered enterprise," developed its PR, marketing, and mission, and directs the continuing affairs of the organization. As a result, he serves as one of the primary voices on current and future Internet developments today. The Society was established as an Internet global international organization to provide the activities and coordination necessary for the growth and development of the Internet worldwide.
From 1992-94, he was Director of Technology Assessment in the Strategic Planning Group of Sprint International. His principal responsibility was leading the company in new and innovative directions through business planning, development and incorporation of advanced technologies and applications generally, and internetworking technologies specifically. He followed and coordinated a broad array of technological, economic, business, trade and institutional activities in the information-telecommunication field, internal and external to Sprint, aimed at maintaining or deriving new Sprint business opportunities.
From 1987-1992, he was Counselor to two different Secretary-Generals of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva - the world's intergovernmental organization for telecommunications. He was responsible for analysis of major developments in the field and formulation of policies and international provisions, including many technical, legal, regulatory, organization management and GATT trade issues that arose at the highest international business and governmental levels. He came to the ITU in 1987 as head of its Telecommunication Regulations and Relations Between Members Division - which supports the coordination of laws, regulations and operational information among national administrations and public telecom service providers.
Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.), Law (J.D.)
in previous incarnations, he was a broadcast engineer, owner of a small electronics design company, and research microbiologist.
active in the IEEE, ABA, and numerous other forums Published Works
He has authored or contributed to several books, written more than 100 published articles and reports.
TELECOM 95 at a Glance | Practical Information | Exhibition 95 | Forum 95 | Bookfair | Press | Special Projects | ITU Home Page