George A. Keyworth, II
Encyclopedia
Dr. George Albert II Keyworth (G. A. Keyworth) (born 1939), U.S. physicist
; presidential Science Advisor 1981-1985. He was a board member of Hewlett Packard who was asked to step down in light of the controversy surrounding disclosure of sensitive information to the media. He resigned on September 13, 2006.
Keyworth was also on the board of directors for Eon Corporation (formally known as TV Answer) from 1990-1994. He worked as a liaison between TV Answer and Hewlett-Packard
which eventually led to a manufacturing and marketing partnership between the two companies that was designed to speed the development of the first national interactive television system. Keyworth facilitated the agreement between HP and TV Answer to manufacture and market interactive television home units that would activate and control TV Answer’s two-way system in the home.
He was Science Advisor to the president and director of the White House
's Office of Science and Technology Policy
from 1981 to 1986. He is also a director of General Atomics.
s about then-CEO Carly Fiorina
's clashes with the board surfaced, Fiorina hired a law firm to find the source. In February 2005, Fiorina left the company and Patricia Dunn
, non-executive chairwoman, continued the investigation. As part of a larger scandal, a subcontractor used pretexting to expose Keyworth as the source of an alleged additional leak to Cnet
, and he was outed at a May 18, 2006 board meeting. At the meeting, Dunn asked Keyworth to resign, he refused asserting that he was not the source of any unauthorized or inappropriate communication with reporters, and another board member (Tom Perkins
) resigned over the way Keyworth was being treated. HP revealed the story on September 6, 2006 and said that they were not seeking Keyworth's reelection to the board. Coinciding with Mark V. Hurd
's promotion to chairman, Keyworth resigned on September 12. In connection with Keyworth's resignation, HP made the following statement regarding the alleged CNET leak: "At HP's request, Dr. Keyworth often had contacts with the press to explain HP's interests. The board does not believe that Dr. Keyworth's contact with CNET in January 2006 was vetted through appropriate channels, but also recognizes that his discussion with the CNET reporter was undertaken in an attempt to further HP's interests. HP board chairman Patricia Dunn expressed regret for the intrusion into his privacy." http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2006/060912b.html
Keyworth had been a director of HP since 1986 and, until his resignation, was the longest-serving director at the company.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
; presidential Science Advisor 1981-1985. He was a board member of Hewlett Packard who was asked to step down in light of the controversy surrounding disclosure of sensitive information to the media. He resigned on September 13, 2006.
Career
Keyworth has been chairman and senior fellow with The Progress & Freedom Foundation since 1995.Keyworth was also on the board of directors for Eon Corporation (formally known as TV Answer) from 1990-1994. He worked as a liaison between TV Answer and Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
which eventually led to a manufacturing and marketing partnership between the two companies that was designed to speed the development of the first national interactive television system. Keyworth facilitated the agreement between HP and TV Answer to manufacture and market interactive television home units that would activate and control TV Answer’s two-way system in the home.
He was Science Advisor to the president and director of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
's Office of Science and Technology Policy
Office of Science and Technology Policy
The Office of Science and Technology Policy is an office in the Executive Office of the President , established by Congress on May 11, 1976, with a broad mandate to advise the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs.The director of this office is...
from 1981 to 1986. He is also a director of General Atomics.
Hewlett Packard resignation
In early 2005, after news leakNews leak
A news leak is a disclosure of embargoed information in advance of its official release, or the unsanctioned release of confidential information.-Types of news leaks:...
s about then-CEO Carly Fiorina
Carly Fiorina
Carly Fiorina is an American business executive and a former Republican candidate for the United States Senate representing California. Fiorina served as chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005 and previously was an executive at AT&T and its equipment and technology spinoff,...
's clashes with the board surfaced, Fiorina hired a law firm to find the source. In February 2005, Fiorina left the company and Patricia Dunn
Patricia C. Dunn
Patricia Cecile Dunn , aka Patricia Cecile Dunn-Jahnke, is the former non-executive chairman of the board of Hewlett-Packard , a position she held from February 2005 until September 22, 2006, when she resigned her position. On October 4, 2006 Bill Lockyer, the California attorney general, charged...
, non-executive chairwoman, continued the investigation. As part of a larger scandal, a subcontractor used pretexting to expose Keyworth as the source of an alleged additional leak to Cnet
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
, and he was outed at a May 18, 2006 board meeting. At the meeting, Dunn asked Keyworth to resign, he refused asserting that he was not the source of any unauthorized or inappropriate communication with reporters, and another board member (Tom Perkins
Tom Perkins
Thomas James Perkins is an American businessman, capitalist, and was one of the founders of leading venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.-Biography:...
) resigned over the way Keyworth was being treated. HP revealed the story on September 6, 2006 and said that they were not seeking Keyworth's reelection to the board. Coinciding with Mark V. Hurd
Mark V. Hurd
Mark Vincent Hurd is co-president, director, and board member of Oracle Corporation, and the past chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Hewlett-Packard. At Hewlett-Packard, Hurd succeeded CFO Robert Wayman, who served as interim CEO from February 10, 2005 to March 28, 2005, after...
's promotion to chairman, Keyworth resigned on September 12. In connection with Keyworth's resignation, HP made the following statement regarding the alleged CNET leak: "At HP's request, Dr. Keyworth often had contacts with the press to explain HP's interests. The board does not believe that Dr. Keyworth's contact with CNET in January 2006 was vetted through appropriate channels, but also recognizes that his discussion with the CNET reporter was undertaken in an attempt to further HP's interests. HP board chairman Patricia Dunn expressed regret for the intrusion into his privacy." http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2006/060912b.html
Keyworth had been a director of HP since 1986 and, until his resignation, was the longest-serving director at the company.