David A. Patterson is a pioneering computer scientist known for his contributions to computer architecture, particularly as a co-developer of Reduced Instruction Set Computing, or RISC, which revolutionized processor design. He received the 2017 Turing Award together with John L. Hennessy “for pioneering a systematic, quantitative approach to the design and evaluation of computer architectures with enduring impact on the microprocessor industry.” Kevin Ball or KBall, is the vice president of engineering at Mento and an independent coach for engineers and engineering leaders.