James Corrigan

With a successful career in network connectivity and remote management of diverse computing devices across various organizations, James Corrigan, BIS ‘81, brings a strong focus on collaboration and problem-solving to the CHSS alumni board.

At Digital Equipment Corporation, Corrigan learned about innovative "skunk works" development approaches, working in small, resource-constrained teams with strict timelines to launch products—a practice that foreshadowed Agile methodologies. Responding to customer needs for connectivity to DECnet, LAT, and MOP networks on non-DEC systems, he cofounded Ki Research/NETWORKS. Their solutions facilitated seamless integration, providing DECnet, LAT, MOP, network management, and Phase IV Routing across 55 different vendor platforms and operating systems. Bridging the gap between disparate systems became a central mission. Emphasizing vendor independence and neutrality, our software enabled smooth transitions from DEC networks to TCP/IP, safeguarding clients' investments in DEC infrastructure. These experiences underscored the importance of collaboration and teamwork. The journey continued with the evolution into Manage Operations (MO), a derivative of Ki NETWORKS, offering robust tools like CCM, C-LIM, and MO for managing distributed computing environments. These solutions empowered remote hardware management across multiple vendors, ensuring secure access to physical and virtual servers, network devices, and storage systems. MO's capabilities extend to log file management, remote power control, real-time monitoring, and application/resource tracking, enhancing operational efficiency in diverse IT environments.