William “Bill” Decker, who was instrumental in developing technology infrastructure both at the University of Iowa and on the national level, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science from Iowa during the 9 a.m. May 11 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony.

Decker says he was surprised when he found out he would receive the honorary degree and honored that his work at the university will be recognized.

“Important personal responsibilities kept me from completing my PhD many years ago,” he says. “This honorary degree is, therefore, especially significant and meaningful to me. I suggest that all of us should encourage and lift up those for whom we have high regard—recognize their work and offer praise in ways that we can.”

Decker, a native Iowan, received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Iowa in 1966. He became one of the university’s first graduate students in the computer science department and graduated in 1968 with a master’s degree.

After graduation, Decker began working at the University Computer Center—later renamed the Weeg Computing Center—and eventually became assistant director. He then joined the Department of Computer Science in 1978 as an instructor and research scientist in the then-new Computer Science Research Laboratory. He managed the laboratory’s staff, researched computing support for the statistics and mathematics departments, and helped develop the computer science department’s curriculum.

In 1993, Decker became associate vice president for research and director of Information Technology Services. In the role, he began to receive national attention as a leader in internet infrastructure development and helped build the foundation of the university’s current ITS department.

“The people with whom I have worked, the students I’ve taught, and the extraordinary intellectual stimulation that has been a part of projects, responsibilities, and activities here at Iowa have all made my life very rich and enjoyable,” Decker says.

The recognition of his leadership in internet infrastructure at Iowa led Decker to the National Science Foundation, where he served as program director for Advanced Networking Infrastructure within the foundation’s Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate from 1998 to 2000. He managed a $43 million grant portfolio for projects researching and developing internet infrastructure.

Decker’s work at the foundation steered development of improved networking technology through Next Generation Internet and Internet2 initiatives. The Internet2 initiative helped bring highly effective internet and networking services to institutions such as Iowa and still exists today to provide universities, organizations, and government with secure network services for research and education.

Decker returned to the UI in 2000 to resume his role as associate vice president for research. He served as interim vice president for research in 2003 and was responsible for all aspects of research administration, including sponsored programs, regulatory compliance, intellectual property management and technology transfer, infrastructure, and multi-disciplinary centers and units. He retired from Iowa in 2006.

“The government of Iowa chose to establish the University of Iowa in 1847,” Decker says. “I believe this means that Iowa values the education, research, service, health care, and forms of entertainment and cultural offerings the University of Iowa provides. As a native Iowan, I have always loved being a part of that service to my home state.”