Justin Rattner
Intel CTO who led the first teraFLOPS supercomputer.
Justin R. Rattner spent decades at Intel, rising through the ranks to become a Senior Fellow, Corporate Vice President, and the head of Intel Labs. As the company’s Chief Technology Officer, he oversaw its microprocessor, communications, and systems technology labs, along with Intel Research. He is best known for his pioneering work on the Department of Energy’s ASCI Red System—the first computer to hit one trillion operations per second (a teraFLOPS) and the world’s fastest machine from 1996 to 2000. That achievement earned him a spot as ABC World News’ Person of the Week in December 1996.
Rattner joined Intel in 1973, became its first principal engineer in 1979, its fourth Intel Fellow in 1988, and one of the first four Senior Fellows in 2002. Earlier in his career, he worked at Hewlett-Packard and Xerox. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from Cornell University (1970 and 1972), and in 2012 received an honorary Doctor of Science from Willamette University, where he gave the commencement address to the Atkinson Graduate School of Management.
His honors include being named R&D Magazine’s Scientist of the Year in 1989 for his leadership in parallel and distributed computing, and being recognized as one of the Computing 200—the 200 people who most shaped the U.S. computer industry—later profiled in the ACM Press book *Wizards and Their Wonders*. He also won two Intel Achievement Awards for high-performance computing and advanced cluster communication architecture. Rattner served on Intel’s Research Council and Academic Advisory Council, and was the company’s executive sponsor for Cornell University’s College of Engineering External Advisory Board.
Outside of tech, Rattner lives near Portland, Oregon, where he and his three children run a large equestrian competition and training facility.
Quick Facts
- Workplaces
- Hewlett-Packard / Xerox / Intel
- Education
- Cornell University (B.S. EECS, 1970; M.S. EECS, 1972)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Justin Rattner joined Intel in 1973 and was named its first principal engineer in 1979, its fourth Intel Fellow in 1988, and one of the first four senior fellows in 2002. He served as Intel's Chief Technology Officer, directing microprocessor, communications and systems technology labs and Intel Research. Prior to Intel, he held positions with Hewlett-Packard Company and Xerox Corporation.
In 1989, Rattner was named Scientist of the Year by R&D Magazine for his leadership in parallel and distributed computer architecture. In December 1996, he was featured as Person of the Week by ABC World News for his work on the Department of Energy ASCI Red System, which became the first computer to sustain one trillion operations per second (one teraFLOPS) and held the title of fastest computer in the world from 1996 to 2000. He received two Intel Achievement Awards for high performance computing and advanced cluster communication architecture.
Rattner has been honored as one of the Computing 200, the 200 individuals having the greatest impact on the U.S. computer industry, and was profiled in the book Wizards and Their Wonders from ACM Press. He was a longstanding member of Intel's Research Council and Academic Advisory Council, and served as Intel executive sponsor for Cornell University on the External Advisory Board for the College of Engineering. He lives near Portland, Oregon, where he and his three children own and operate a large equestrian competition and training facility.
Reader's Guide
Justin Rattner's significance lies in his leadership of the ASCI Red System, which achieved a milestone in supercomputing by becoming the first computer to sustain one trillion operations per second (one teraFLOPS). This system was the fastest computer in the world from 1996 to 2000, demonstrating a leap in computational capability for the Department of Energy. His recognition as ABC World News Person of the Week in December 1996 underscores the public impact of this achievement. As Intel's Chief Technology Officer and director of Intel Labs, he oversaw research in microprocessors, communications, and systems technology, shaping Intel's technological direction. His two Intel Achievement Awards for high performance computing and advanced cluster communication architecture highlight his contributions to parallel computing. Being named one of the Computing 200 and profiled in Wizards and Their Wonders reflects his influence on the U.S. computer industry. His career at Intel spanned from 1973 to retirement, during which he rose through the ranks to become one of the first four senior fellows, indicating his sustained technical leadership. His honorary Doctor of Science from Willamette University in 2012 further acknowledges his legacy in computing.
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