Rodney Adkins

Rodney Adkins (born August 23, 1958) is an electrical engineer who was the first African American to serve as a senior vice president at IBM. In 1983, Adkins graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a M.S. degree in electrical engineering. [1] [2][3]

Early life and education

Adkins was born on August 23, 1985 in Miami, Florida. His parents are Archie and Wauneta Adkins. After graduating valedictorian from Miami Jackson High School, he attended Georgia Institute of Technology in 1976. Adkins graduated with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering in 1981. He also, received a B.A. in physics from Rollins College in 1982, and a Master of electrical engineering in 1983, also from Georgia Institute of Technology.[1]

Career

Adkins began working at International Business Machines in 1981 and helped develop the IBM ThinkPad, one of the first laptop computers. In 2007 he was appointed to the position of IBM corporate officer and senior vice president, the first African American to hold this position.[1]

Adkins has received many awards throughout his life. He won his first award as the Black Engineer of the year in 1996 and 2007. He also won 50 Most Powerful Black Executive in America in 2002, Black Enterprise magazine corporate executive in 2011 and the National Society of Black Engineers awarded him a lifetime achievement award in 2001.[4]

References
  1. "Rodney Adkins's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  2. Spohr, George. "IBM's top black exec keeps low profile". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  3. LaVallee, Andrew. "IBM Promotes Rod Adkins in Galleon Reshuffle". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  4. "Rodney Adkins". NAE Website. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
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