Phil Kiviat, long-time advocate for better government, dies at age 85
Philip Kiviat, founder of IAC and other efforts aimed to build trust and cooperation between government and industry, has died at age 85.
By
Nick Wakeman
He will be remembered for his work to foster closer relationships between government and industry through building trust.
In a market that loves to talk about the importance of partnering and collaboration, few people walked that talk like the late Philip Kiviat.
Kiviat died on May 25 at age 85. He was well-known and well-loved across a wide swath of the federal market and had deep connections in industry and inside government.
He started his career in the research and think tank world and helped develop the programming languages GASP and SIMSCRIPT II, according to his obituary. He then was a technical lead at during the early days of GSA’s Federal Systems Integration and Management Center, known as FEDSIM.
He also created the Kiviat Graph, a technique for analyzing computer performance data.
“He was one of the smartest people I know. He had an ability to assess complex issues in a way that helped others understand and respond,” said Robert Guerra.
He and Kiviat formed a consulting business to advise industry and government on a broad range of topics, but almost always dealing with how to make government work better.
“We were friends for over 20 years and business partners for over a decade,” Guerra said. “His impact on federal IT acquisition and efficiency will last well beyond his years here on earth.”
Kiviat’s focus on creating partnerships and trust between industry and government is what led him to launch the Industry Advisory Council in 1989. The following year he won the first of five Federal 100 awards. He was recognized in 1990 (the first year of the Fed 100), 1991, 1992, 2000 and 2007.
Other awards during his career include the President Jimmy Carter Certificate of Appreciation, the A. A. Michaelson Award, and induction into Government Computer News Hall of Fame.
His obituary describes him well because he was more than his work and his accolades:
“Philip possessed a warmth and generosity that endeared him to family, friends, and colleagues alike. His infectious laughter and genuine interest in others created a vibrant tapestry of relationships.”
Kiviat is survived by his wife Marilyn, two children Theodore and Cindy, his brother Stephen, and four grandchildren.
A graveside service is planned for Sunday, June 4 at 11:15 a.m. at the Garden of Remembrance in Clarksburg, Maryland.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in his honor.