Larry Irving

Larry Irving is the president and CEO of the Irving Information Group, a telecommunications and information technology strategic planning and consulting business based in Washington, D.C. He also heads the Irving Group, a consulting firm that provides strategic advice and assistance to international telecommunications and information technology companies, foundations, and non-profit organizations.

From 2009 to 2011, Irving served as Vice President of Global Government Affairs for Hewlett-Packard Company, the world's largest technology company. He joined Hewlett-Packard on September 9, 2009 and left in 2011, during which time he addressed various facets of technology and telecommunications, including wireless, cloud computing, applications, and mobile services. He also focused on cyber security and its foreign policy implications, the political and economic implications and opportunities of innovations and technology, international regulations of the internet, and technology versus privacy issues.

Prior to his roles at Irving Group and Hewlett-Packard, Irving was the head of the National Telecommunications Infrastructure Administration (NTIA), an agency of the United States Department of Commerce. As the assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information and administrator of the NTIA, he served for almost seven years as a principal advisor to the president, vice president, and secretary of commerce on domestic and international telecommunications and information technology issues. Irving was a principal architect of President Bill Clinton's telecommunications, Internet, and e-commerce policies and initiatives. He also worked with President Barack Obama's transition team on science and tech agencies.

Irving is widely credited with authoring three reports entitled "Falling Through the Net" that highlighted the scope and consequences of inequities in access to information technology. His recognition of the "digital divide" and work to promote policies and develop programs to ensure access to advanced telecommunications and information technologies earned him a spot as one of Newsweek's 50 most influential people in the "Year of the Internet" in 1994. He advocates for regulatory reform and has represented the United States government in several international conferences on global internet development.

In 2019, Irving became the first African American to be part of the elite ranks of notable individuals inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame. He was inducted for his impact on increasing internet access among unserved and underserved populations. His contribution continues to be referenced by governmental, corporate, philanthropic, and non-profit organizations worldwide that are concerned about increasing access to the internet and improving user competence in navigating the web. In addition to his professional roles, Irving also sits on the board in an official or adviser capacity for various organizations.

Irving, a graduate of Northwestern University with a BA and a JD holder from Stanford University, has also made appearances on C-SPAN. His works and influences can be tracked through his VIAF and LCCN identifiers.