Microsoft hires DeWitt and starts Jim Gray Systems Lab in Madison Wisconsin

I just read this exciting news (a bit old apparently but I did not know) that Microsoft has hired David DeWitt to head the newly founded Jim Gray Systems Lab in Madison Wisconsin. Why is this exciting you say? Well, two reasons: first, xSQL Software has strong ties to Madison Wisconsin and to the database department that DeWitt headed for many years; and second, because this is a great move on Microsoft’s part. What makes this very interesting is the fact that in his new position DeWitt works for the Data and Storage division that makes SQL Server rather than working for the Microsoft Research division – in practical terms that means that his ideas and work have a much higher chance of being applied in the real world applications that Microsoft makes.

We wish DeWitt and the Jim Gray Systems Lab great success!