Dr. J. Patrick Kennedy is CEO of OSIsoft, a software company that builds real-time monitoring information systems for heavy industrial facilities. Under Dr. Kennedy’s leadership, the company has grown from a small startup in 1980 to a global corporation with 800+ employees in 110 countries. Based on a model of “rapid-to-install,” easy-to-use and 7x24x366 support, OSIsoft customers learn how to profitably lower their carbon footprint. Before starting OSIsoft, Dr. Kennedy worked as a research engineer for Shell Development Company and an applications consultant for Taylor Instrument Company.

Dr. Kennedy attended the University of Kansas, earning a B.S. in chemical engineering in 1964 and a Ph.D. in the same field in 1970. He holds a patent on a catalytic reformer control system and is the co-author of the book Perfect Plant. Dr. Kennedy has also been recognized by several technical societies including the Instrument Society of America (ISA) and the National Petroleum Refining Association (NPRA).

Currently Dr. Kennedy is funding a fiber-optic ring around the city of San Leandro to help it become a next-generation manufacturing city. The private-public project uses existing city conduit in return for enough fibers to enhance the public infrastructure. When completed, it will be one of the few public-owned fiber infrastructures in the Bay Area. The very first customer of the ring is OSIsoft which will run dedicated fiber to an Oakland data center. This same capacity will be available to all San Leandro businesses. For his efforts in this area, Dr. Kennedy was named San Leandro’s “Businessman of the Year.”