Jeff Jonas is Chief Scientist of the IBM Entity Analytics Group and an IBM Distinguished Engineer. The IBM Entity Analytics Group was formed based on technologies developed by Systems Research & Development (SRD), founded by Jonas in 1984, and acquired by IBM in January, 2005.
Prior to the acquisition Jonas lead SRD through the design and development of a number of unique systems including technology used by the Las Vegas gaming industry. One such innovation played a pivotal role in protecting the gaming industry from aggressive card count teams. The most notable known as the MIT team featured in the book “Bringing Down the House”, and recent movie “21.” This work is frequently featured in documentaries appearing on, the Discovery Channel, Learning Channel and the Travel Channel.
Following an investment in 2001 by In-Q-Tel, the venture capital arm of the CIA; SRD began playing a role in America’s national security and counterterrorism mission. One such contribution includes an analysis of the connections between the individual 9/11 terrorists. This link analysis is now taught in universities and has been widely cited by think tanks and the media, for example, an extensive one-on-one interview with Peter Jennings that aired on ABC PrimeTime.
Jonas designs next generation technology that helps organizations better leverage their enterprise-wide information assets. With particular interest in real-time “sensemaking” these innovative systems fundamentally improve enterprise intelligence which makes organizations smarter, more efficient and highly competitive.
Jonas’ work has received wide media attention from the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, to Fortune Magazine, MSNBC and National Public Radio. A highly sought after speaker, Jonas travels the globe discussing innovation, national security, and privacy with government leaders, industry executives, leading global think tanks, privacy advocacy groups, and policy research organizations. He is a Member of the Markle Foundation Task Force on National Security in the Information Age, a Board Member of the US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), on the EPIC Advisory Board, a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and a Distinguished Engineer of Information Systems (adjunct) at Singapore Management University.
Jonas periodically testifies on privacy and counterterrorism in such venues as the Department of Homeland Security’s Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee, and other federally convened commissions.
Jonas was briefly a quadriplegic in 1988 following a car accident. Today, he competes in Ironman triathlons around the world. He has three wonderful children he raised as a single father.
Jeff Jonas has been a Member of the Markle Task Force since 2003 and is part of the Task Force’s Steering Committee. He has contributed to the following reports produced by the Task Force: Creating a Trusted Network for Homeland Security in 2003, Implementing a Trusted Information Sharing Environment in 2006, Mobilizing Information to Prevent Terrorism in 2006, and Nation at Risk in 2009.
