John F. Carlson

John F. Carlson (1938–2006) was an American business executive best known for leading supercomputer manufacturer Cray Research Inc. during a pivotal period in its history. Born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, he studied at Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota, and began his career as a certified public accountant with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. in 1964.

Carlson joined Cray Research in 1976, when large-scale vector supercomputers were at the cutting edge of scientific and engineering computation. Over the next two decades he held a series of increasingly senior roles, including director and executive vice president, as the company expanded its product line and international presence. In 1991 he was elected president and chief operating officer of Cray Research, and by the early 1990s he had become chairman and chief executive officer of the Eagan, Minnesota–based firm.

Under Carlson’s leadership, Cray Research remained a central player in the global supercomputing market, supplying systems used for weather forecasting, national defense, academic research, and advanced industrial simulations. At the time, Cray systems were often regarded as the pinnacle of high-performance computing, and the company held a dominant share of the world supercomputing market.

Carlson’s expertise was recognized at the national level. In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed him to the President’s Export Council, where he joined leaders from across American industry to advise the administration on trade and export issues. In that role he brought a high-technology and supercomputing perspective to discussions about U.S. competitiveness in global markets.

Remembered for his integrity, leadership, and generosity, Carlson helped shape both the corporate trajectory of Cray Research and the broader landscape of high-performance computing. His career stands as an example of how strong financial grounding, strategic vision, and technical industry understanding can combine to guide a complex technology company through rapid change.