Robert Melancton Metcalfe (born April 7, 1946)[2][3] is an American engineer and businessman. He is important in the Internet's creation starting in 1970. He co-invented Ethernet, co-founded 3Com and formulated Metcalfe's law. He has been Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The University of Texas at Austin. He is also the Murchison Fellow of Free Enterprise.[4] He was awarded the 2023 Turing Award.[5]