Al Shugart has more than 45 years of experience in the technology industry and continues to play a key role in determining the future of information technology. Nicknamed Maverick, Spin Doctor, Computer Pioneer, and the Disk Drive King by industry journalists, Shugart is renowned for his unconventional thinking and straightforward manner.
Shugart founded Seagate Technology, Inc. in 1979, building the company into the world’s largest independent manufacturer of disk drives and related components, as well as a leading developer of software tools and applications in the area of data management, including information management, network and systems management and storage management. In 1998, he left Seagate to establish Al Shugart International, a management/consultant company focused on helping entrepreneurs launch new enterprises. While at Seagate, Shugart joined the Board of Directors of SanDisk Corporation, Valence Technology, and Inktomi, all listed NASDAQ stocks. Since leaving Seagate, he has joined the Board of Directors of three additional companies: Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE), and privately held NxtWave Communications and Blue Sky Research. Shugart holds a Chairman position at Blue Sky Research.
From 1975 to 1979, Shugart worked as a private consultant to the technology industry. In 1973, he co-founded Shugart Associates, leaving at the end of 1974. He held the position of vice president of Product Development at Memorex from 1969 to 1973. Before joining Memorex, he worked for IBM Corporation for 18 years, starting as a field engineer in 1951, the day after he finished college. He worked as a manager of a variety of programs including IBM’s 2321 data cell drive, and was instrumental in the development of the world’s first disk drive, the Advanced Disk File, which became the IBM 1301. Shugart was promoted to manager of all random access memory products, and then to director of Engineering for the Systems Development Division, before resigning in 1969.
Shugart remains actively involved in politics. In 1997, he formed Friends of Ernest (FOE), an accredited nonprofit and nonpartisan citizen’s watchdog organization dedicated to promoting public interest in the American political process. A recognized personality and significant presence in the community, Shugart continues to support organizations that contribute to the betterment of society, like the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Shugart is the author of two books - Ernest Goes To Washington (Well, Not Exactly), the true story of Ernest’s run for Congress, and Fandango, The Story of Two Guys Who Wanted to Own a Restaurant, a firsthand account of Shugart’s life in the restaurant business.
Born and raised in California, Shugart attended the University of Redlands where he earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering physics.
