Announcing the 2026 Internet Leadership Award Winners

The i2Coalition 2026 Congressional Fly-In will conclude with our annual Internet Leadership Awards ceremony and reception on September 17. Each year, we recognize individuals whose leadership, entrepreneurship, public service, and technical innovation have helped strengthen the Internet and the ecosystem that supports it.

We are proud to announce this year’s award recipients and look forward to celebrating them in Washington, D.C. as the Internet infrastructure community gathers for the Fly-In.

Let’s meet this year’s Internet Leadership Award winners.

Special Lifetime Achievement in Internet Infrastructure Award:
Emmit McHenry
Few individuals can claim to have helped build the foundations of the modern Internet. As co-founder of Network Solutions, Emmit McHenry played a pivotal role in transforming the Domain Name System from a technical function into one of the cornerstones of the commercial Internet. His work helped make the Internet more accessible, navigable, and usable for businesses and individuals around the world. Over a career spanning technology, telecommunications, entrepreneurship, education, and public service, McHenry has remained a champion for innovation and opportunity. This award recognizes both his foundational contributions to Internet infrastructure and his lasting impact on the generations of entrepreneurs who followed.

Ron Yokubaitis Internet Community Leadership Award:
James Bladel
For more than two decades, James Bladel has been one of the Internet community’s most respected leaders. Through leadership roles at GoDaddy, ICANN, and numerous industry initiatives, he has consistently worked to strengthen the multi-stakeholder model, foster collaboration, and advance responsible Internet governance. As James transitions into retirement, i2Coalition is honored to recognize a career defined by service, thoughtful leadership, and a deep commitment to the Internet community.

Karl Zimmerman Internet Entrepreneur Award:
Ray King
Ray King embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that has driven the Internet industry since its earliest days. Over four decades, he has founded or co-founded a remarkable series of companies, including SnapNames, Top Level Design, ICANNWiki, and Porkbun. His work has helped shape how businesses and individuals discover, acquire, manage, and build value around digital identities online. Through a career marked by innovation, creativity, and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking, King has repeatedly helped define what comes next for the domain name industry and the broader Internet ecosystem.

Champion of Internet Freedom Award:
One final honoree remains under wraps.

We are not quite ready to announce this year’s recipient of the Champion of Internet Freedom Award, which recognizes legislators, regulators, policymakers, and public-interest leaders whose work has advanced the principles of an open, secure, and innovative Internet. Stay tuned for that announcement in the coming weeks.

If you are not attending the full Fly-In, we invite you to join us for just the Internet Leadership Awards Ceremony and Reception

When: 4:00pm-6:00pm October 9, 2025

Where: CET Innovation House in Washington, D.C.

Cost: $35 per ticket, which includes all refreshments

You can use this link to get your ticket.

Note: When you register for the i2Coalition Congressional Fly-In, the Awards Ceremony and reception are already included.