A landscape architect by training, Jack Dangermond founded Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) in 1969 with a vision that computer mapping and analysis could help design a better future. Under Dangermond’s leadership, that vision has continued to guide Esri in creating cutting-edge GIS and Geodesign technologies used in every industry to make a difference worldwide.
Dangermond fostered the growth of Esri from a small research group to an organization recognized as the world leader in GIS software development. Esri employs more than 4,000 people worldwide; many who shared his passion for GIS in the early days are still with the company and remain dedicated to helping our users be successful.
Dangermond’s vision for Esri goes beyond building the leading GIS technology. He keeps the company mindful of global challenges and the needs of specific industries. The ongoing drive is to engineer ArcGIS to aggregate and integrate increasing quantities of data, to visualize and analyze the data to gain holistic understanding, and to help individuals and organizations make impactful evidence-based decisions.
Education
M.S., Landscape Architecture, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, 1969
M.S., Urban Planning, Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, 1968
B.S., Landscape Architecture, California Polytechnic College–Pomona, 1967
Honorary Doctorates
University of Greenwich, London, 2013
University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, 2013
Clark University, Worcester Massachusetts, 2011
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 2008
Loma Linda University, California, 2006
University of Arizona, Tucson, 2006
Technical University for Civil Engineering of Bucharest – Romania, 2005
California Polytechnic University – Pomona, 2005
State University of New York – Buffalo, 2005
University of West Hungary, 2003
City University of London, 2002
University of Redlands, 1999
Ferris State University, 1993
Selected Awards
Planet and Humanity Medal, International Geographical Union, 2021
Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau, Netherlands, 2019
LALH Legacy Award, Library of American Landscape History, 2019
Audubon Medal, The National Audubon Society, 2015
Ocean Conservation Award, Aquarium of the Pacific, 2014
Champions of the Earth Award, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2013
Alexander Graham Bell Medal, National Geographic Society, 2010
Patron’s Medal, Royal Geographical Society, 2010
Public-Private Partnership Award, National Governors Association, 2009
Carl Mannerfelt Medal, International Cartographic Association, 2008
Inductee, GIS Hall of Fame, Urban and Regional Information Systems Association, 2005
Outstanding Service Award, American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), 2007
Henry Shaw Medal, Missouri Botanical Garden, 2006
Fellow of ITC, The Netherlands, 2004
Distinguished Public Service Award for outstanding contributions to national and international affairs, U.S. Department of State, The Secretary’s Open Forum, 2002
LaGasse Medal for Excellence in the Management of Public Lands and Natural Resources in the Public Interest, American Society of Landscape Architects, 2000
Brock Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievements in the Evolution of Spatial Information Sciences, International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 2000
Cullum Geographical Medal of Distinction for the advancement of geographical science, American Geographical Society, 1999
EDUCAUSE Medal for developing outstanding, technology-based teaching and learning programs in geography, EDUCAUSE in partnership with the Association of American Geographers, 1999
James R. Anderson Medal of Honor in Applied Geography, Association of American Geographers, 1998
Ed Forrest Award for Excellence in Design/Construction Design Automation, A/E/C Systems International, 1997
John Wesley Powell Award, U.S. Geological Survey, 1996
Professional Organizations
World Geospatial Industry Council
European Academy of Sciences and Arts
National Geographic Society Board of Trustees
Commerce Data Advisory Committee
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Urban Dynamics Institute (UDI) Advisory Board
Census Advisory Science Committee
The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), Board Member
National Geospatial Advisory Committee, NGAC
National Geographic Education Foundation, NGS
Earth System Science and Applications Advisory Committee, NASA
Science and Technology Advisory Committee, NASA
National Steering Committee, Task Force on National Digital Cartographic Standards
Role, International Eurasian Academy of Sciences
Executive Board, National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA)
National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT)
Information Impacts Committee, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Board of NCGIA—University of California at Santa Barbara
National Science Foundation: SBE Advisory Committee and AC-ERE Advisory Council
Committee on Social Science Association (COSSA)
Committee on Geography, National Academy of Science
President’s Engineering Advisory Council, University of California at Berkeley
Editorial Advisory Board, GEO World
Editorial Advisory Board, Geospatial Solutions
