African American Innovators in Tech | Emmit McHenry

The internet would have been a fragment of man’s dreams without Emmit McHenry’s work. It is safe to say that he created the internet and its world of endless digital possibilities. He was an inventor, an entrepreneur, an engineer, and a trailblazer. Emmit McHenry made the .com, .edu, .net, and .gov domain names.

After recieving his B.Sc and MSc in Communications, Emmit McHenry started Network Solutions with a few of his associates. Sixteen years later, the U.S Government granted their engineering venture a contract. Network Solutions worked with the National Science Foundation to build and manage the first-ever domain name registration system.

McHenry wrote a complex code that allowed anyone to use email and search the internet without much computer knowledge. His invention exposed the world to the commercial potential the internet had. In the early 1990s, Network Solutions was exclusively responsible for creating public domain names.

Data from Verisign, a prominent internet infrastructure company, reveals that about 366.8 million domain names have been registered as of the beginning of 2020. All thanks to McHenry’s work. Emmit McHenry later founded NetCom Solutions International, Inc., serving as the Chairman and CEO. He also co-founded Archurra, LLC, with his son, which provides digital security solutions to protect against cyber threats.

Emmit McHenry Legacy

McHenry’s contributions to the internet revolutionized how people communicate and conduct business in the modern world. However, his vision for the internet extended beyond simple connectivity, and he saw its potential for revolutionizing every aspect of society. He once said, “My goal has always been to use the internet to improve people’s lives.” His work paved the way for global connectivity and transformed the internet into an essential tool for information dissemination, e-commerce, and social interaction.

Today, Emmit McHenry is recognized as one of the pioneers of the internet, and his legacy continues to inspire a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. His impact on the development of the internet and his entrepreneurial spirit has been an inspiration to many, and his contribution will continue to shape the world for years to come.