Sumner M. Redstone, executive chairman and founder of Viacom Inc. and CBS Corporation, speaks on the State of the Media Industry at the Aspen Summit of the Progress and Freedom Foundation held at St. Regis Resort in Aspen, Colorado. The Progress and Freedom Foundation is a market-oriented think tank that studies the digital revolution, technological change, and its implications for public policy.
Bio
George Keyworth
George Keyworth is chairman of The Progress and Freedom Foundation. Simultaneously, he remains chairman of The Keyworth Company, a firm established in 1986 to work with companies in developing strategies for growth based on emerging and changing technologies. From May 1981 to January 1986, Keyworth was Science Advisor to President Reagan and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. As the senior technical member of the President's staff, he led the Administration's effort to capitalize on U.S. science and technology to strengthen industrial competitiveness. In 1984 he was a member of the President's Commission on Industrial Competitiveness.
Prior to his White House Service, Keyworth was Director of the Physics Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he led the Laboratory's programs in experimental physics, condensed matter research, astrophysics and space science, and laser fusion. As a research scientist Keyworth's contributions include pioneering work in high-resolutioned spectroscopy. As a formulator of policy, he has had widespread interactions with science and defense policy makers in many other countries.
He received his B.S. in Physics from Yale University in 1963. He was awarded a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics in 1968 from Duke University.
Sumner M. Redstone
Mr. Redstone, Viacom's Founder, serves as Executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, a position to which he was elected as of January 1, 2006. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of CBS Corporation, a predecessor of the Company. He was Chief Executive Officer of the former Viacom Inc., a predecessor of the Company, from 1996 to 2005 and Chairman of the Board of the former Viacom Inc. since 1986. He has also been Chairman of the Board of National Amusements, Inc., Viacom and CBS Corporation’s controlling stockholder, since 1986, and Chief Executive Officer of National Amusements since 1967. He served as president of National Amusements from 1967 through 1999.
Mr. Redstone served as the first Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Theatre Owners and is currently a member of its Board of Directors. Mr. Redstone has been a frequent lecturer at universities, including Harvard Law School and Brandeis University. Mr. Redstone graduated from Harvard University in 1944 and received an LL.B. from Harvard University School of Law in 1947. Upon graduation, Mr. Redstone served as law secretary with the U.S. Court of Appeals and then as a special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General. Mr. Redstone served in the Military Intelligence Division during World War II. While a student at Harvard, he was selected to join a special intelligence group whose mission was to break Japan’s high-level military and diplomatic codes.
Mr. Redstone received, among other honors, two commendations from the Military Intelligence Division in recognition of his service, contribution and devotion to duty. Mr. Redstone is also a recipient of the Army Commendation Award.