Guest & Host Biographies

Nick Donofrio

Nicholas Donofrio, Fellow Emeritus and Executive Vice President, Innovation and Technology, IBM; Founder and CEO, NMD Consulting, LLC.  He is noted for contributions in the development of semi-conductor memory and technical leadership in computers through his 44-year career with IBM and for his work advancing opportunities for underrepresented minorities and women in STEM disciplines.

Donofrio began his career in 1964 at IBM, where he remained for 44 years in increasingly responsible roles, including those of division president for advanced workshops, general manager of the large-scale computing division, and executive vice president of innovation and technology. Upon retirement from IBM, he was selected as an honorary IBM Fellow, the company’s highest technical honor. He most recently served the state of Connecticut by Co-Chairing the CT General Assembly’s Joint General Law Committee’s Artificial Intelligence Working Group.

A member of several global technical societies, the recipient of several awards and honors, he has also been awarded 10 honorary degrees.  He served terms as Senior Fellow at the Kauffman Foundation (2009-2012), as member/vice-chairman of the US Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board (2008-2012) and as member/chairman of the CT Board of Regents for Higher Education (2011-2016; chair 2013-2016).

Donofrio’s post-secondary education included Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1967, BS, Electrical Engineering; Syracuse University, 1971, MS, Electrical Engineering. He currently serves on the boards of several (small, medium, and large) public, private for-profit and not-for-profit enterprises. Selected memberships include the CT Academy of Science and Engineering (since 2016), the National Academy of Engineering (since 1995), and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

His autobiography, If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes, was released on May 31, 2022.

Senator James Maroney

James Maroney was first elected to represent the 14th District (Milford) in 2018. Senator Maroney currently serves as the Co-Chair of the General Law Committee.  In his time as co-chair of the committee, he has passed comprehensive consumer data privacy laws, children and consumer health data privacy laws, a law governing state government use of AI, laws modernizing and expanding the practice of pharmacy in Connecticut, among others.

Recently, Senator Maroney was named to the inaugural Leadership Council of the Future of Privacy Forum Center for Artificial Intelligence. Senator Maroney’s work on tech legislation has been recognized nationally.

Prior to politics, Sen. Maroney founded and ran an educational consulting business in Milford.  In addition, he was a past president and founding member of the Milford Education Foundation and served on the Milford Board of Education. A proud and active participant in the community, he is a member and past president of the Devon Rotary, where he chaired the scholarship committee for years.

Prior to a successful career in public service, State Senator Maroney attended Yale (Class of 96), where he was a 3-time varsity letter winner in both track and field and cross-country. In his senior year, he was elected captain of the track and field team and was awarded the Yale Men’s Cross-Country Award for Performance and Dedication. He graduated from Jonathan Law High School of Milford in 1992.

Senator Maroney lives in Milford with his wife, Jennifer, and his son, Jay.

Tanimu Deleon, Host

Tanimu Deleon has a BS and MS in Computer Engineering and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering.  Dr. Deleon has well over a decade of experience in research and development, information technology, submarine design and manufacturing, sustainable investments, and human factors. Dr. Deleon is a Principal Engineer and Technical Lead for Human Factors Engineering and Warfighter Performance at General Dynamics Electric Boat. In this capacity, Deleon works across various disciplines to ensure the human element is factored into the boat’s design.