# William John Sullivan

> American software programmer

**Wikidata**: [Q2305687](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2305687)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_John_Sullivan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-john-sullivan

## Summary
William John Sullivan is an American software programmer, computer scientist, and engineer known for his contributions to open-source software, particularly as a maintainer of the Emacs planner and for his work in the free software movement. He has been recognized with the O'Reilly Open Source Award in 2017 and has held leadership roles in organizations like the Free Software Foundation.

## Biography
- Born: December 6, 1976, in Seattle, United States
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Michigan State University, Naropa University
- Known for: Maintaining the Emacs planner and contributing to open-source software
- Employer(s): Free Software Foundation (executive director, 2011–2022)
- Field(s): Software development, computer science, free software movement

## Contributions
- Maintained the Emacs planner, a tool for organizing tasks and schedules, since June 27, 2006.
- Served as executive director of the Free Software Foundation from 2011 to 2022, overseeing its operations and advocacy for free software.
- Received the O'Reilly Open Source Award in 2017 for outstanding contributions to open-source software.

## FAQs
- **What is William John Sullivan known for?**
William John Sullivan is known for his work as a software maintainer, particularly for the Emacs planner, and for his role as executive director of the Free Software Foundation.

- **Where did William John Sullivan study?**
He earned his education at Michigan State University and Naropa University.

- **What awards has William John Sullivan received?**
He received the O'Reilly Open Source Award in 2017.

- **What is William John Sullivan's lifestyle?**
He practices veganism.

- **Where does William John Sullivan reside?**
He resides in Boston.

## Why They Matter
William John Sullivan's work in open-source software and his leadership in the free software movement have had a significant impact on the software development community. His maintenance of the Emacs planner has provided developers with a valuable tool for task management, and his role as executive director of the Free Software Foundation helped advance the principles of free and open-source software. His contributions have influenced the broader tech industry by promoting accessibility and collaboration in software development.

## Notable For
- Maintainer of the Emacs planner since 2006
- Executive director of the Free Software Foundation (2011–2022)
- Recipient of the O'Reilly Open Source Award (2017)
- Advocate for the free software movement
- Contributor to open-source software development

## Body
### Early Life and Education
William John Sullivan was born on December 6, 1976, in Seattle, United States. He pursued his education at Michigan State University and Naropa University, where he studied computer science and related fields.

### Career and Professional Roles
Sullivan began his career as a software programmer and computer scientist, contributing to open-source projects. He later became a maintainer of the Emacs planner, a tool for organizing tasks and schedules, starting in June 27, 2006. In 2011, he was appointed executive director of the Free Software Foundation, a role he held until 2022. During his tenure, he oversaw the organization's operations and advocacy for free software.

### Contributions to Open Source
Sullivan's most notable contribution is his maintenance of the Emacs planner, which has been widely used by developers for task management. He has also been recognized with the O'Reilly Open Source Award in 2017 for his outstanding contributions to open-source software.

### Personal Life
Sullivan practices veganism and resides in Boston. He is an advocate for the free software movement and has been involved in various initiatives promoting open-source software and its principles.

### Legacy and Influence
William John Sullivan's work has had a lasting impact on the software development community. His maintenance of the Emacs planner has provided developers with a valuable tool for task management, and his leadership at the Free Software Foundation has helped advance the principles of free and open-source software. His contributions have influenced the broader tech industry by promoting accessibility and collaboration in software development.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.fsf.org/about/staff-and-board)
2. [Free Software Foundation announces new executive director, Zoë Kooyman. Free Software Foundation. 2022](https://www.fsf.org/news/free-software-foundation-announces-new-executive-director-zoe-kooyman)
3. [Source](http://www.wjsullivan.net/PlannerMode.html)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](http://wjsullivan.net/Recipes.html)