| Kerrie Holley | |
| Birth Name: | Kerrie Lamont Holley |
| Birth Place: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | Kenwood Academy B.A. DePaul University Juris Doctor DePaul University |
| Yearsactive: | 1976–present |
Kerrie Lamont Holley is an American computer scientist, software engineer, author, and inventor. Former Google executive and architect specializing in the healthcare industry with expertise in artificial intelligence, large language models and generative AI. Now pursuing selective endeavors following a distinguished career in tech.
Holley received a B.A. in mathematics from DePaul University in 1976 and a Juris Doctor in Law from DePaul University in 1982. In 2016, Holley was conferred a Doctor of Humane Letters from DePaul University. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2023, recognizing his work in service-oriented architecture.
Holley was raised by his maternal grandmother on Chicago's south side. He became a student at the Sue Duncan Children's Center[1] in 1961 where he was tutored in math and science.[2] As he excelled in the program, he became a tutor at the center, later tutoring former United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan[3] [4] and actor Michael Clarke Duncan.[5] After graduating from Kenwood Academy in 1972, Holley went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from DePaul University[6] in Chicago; followed by a Juris Doctor Degree in 1982 from DePaul University College of Law.[7] [8] In 2016, Holley was conferred a Doctor of Humane Letters.
Kerrie Holley's software engineering and technology leadership career spans several major computing eras, showcasing his adaptability and innovative contributions. Beginning at IBM in 1986 during the mainframe era, Holley worked on large-scale business systems with centralized computing. As technology evolved, he transitioned to the client-server era in the early 1990s, focusing on distributed systems and more interactive computing environments. With the rise of the internet in the late 1990s, Holley became a chief technology officer at IBM, pioneering service-oriented architecture (SOA) and developing practices for evolving large, complex enterprise systems. Notably, Holley became IBM's first African American Distinguished Engineer, and later, in 2006, he was named IBM's second African American Fellow, marking significant milestones in his career and for diversity in the tech industry. In the cloud computing era of the 2010s, Holley's work at Cisco and later at Optum Technology (UnitedHealth Group) encompassed analytics software, automation, machine learning, and cloud-based healthcare solutions. Throughout his career, Holley consistently focused on creating flexible, scalable systems that could adapt to rapid technological advancements, demonstrating the importance of continuous learning and innovation in software engineering.
Holley has authored several books throughout his career, sharing his expertise in various technological domains. In November 2010, Holley's first book, "100 SOA Questions: Asked and Answered," was published, describing how enterprises can adopt service-oriented architecture. His next book, "Is Your Company Ready for Cloud," co-authored with Pam Isom, was released in 2012, addressing the growing importance of cloud computing in business. In 2021, Holley wrote "AI First Healthcare," exploring the application of artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector. His most recent book, "LLMs and Generative AI for Healthcare: The Next Frontier," was published in 2024, reflecting his ongoing engagement with cutting-edge technologies and their impact on healthcare transformation.
Holley owns several patents[16] ranging from how to maintain functionality when faced with component failure to how to locate lost mobile devices and software engineering patents in service-oriented architecture. Holley is a co-patent owner[17] of the industry's first SOA development method and first SOA maturity model. The maturity model helps enterprises assess where they are on the road to adopting a Service-Oriented Architecture and provides a plan for achieving an SOA-based infrastructure.
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