HPC Unites: SC26 General Chair Welcomes All to His ‘Sweet Home Chicago’

On the Road to SC26

After saying farewell to SC25 in St. Louis, the high-performance computing (HPC) community now sets its sights on the next stop along the historic Route 66: Chicago, host city of SC26. SC26 will be led by General Chair Kevin Hayden.

“I am humbled to have been chosen as the General Chair for SC26 – in my hometown of Chicago, no less,” said Hayden, who also serves as Senior Network Engineer at the Department of Energy (DOE)’s Argonne National Laboratory. “The current HPC landscape is marked by realizing discovery at light speed, driven by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, quantum networks, and exascale systems. I’m eager to see how they converge at SC26.”

SC26 General Chair

Kevin Hayden

Senior Network Engineer, Argonne National Laboratory

Built on Collaboration and Discovery

Chicago’s longstanding commitment to research and innovation reflects the collaborative spirit that defines the HPC community. In addition to DOE’s Argonne and Fermilab, it is home to leading academic institutions, including the University of Chicago and UChicago Medicine, Rush University, and Northwestern University, each renowned for work in areas that bridge computing and biomedical research, which also has personal significance for Hayden. Having lost his first wife to cancer, he envisions using SC26 as a platform to further engage the HPC community in efforts that accelerate scientific progress in healthcare, possibly through shared challenges or joint research initiatives that originate at SC26.

Beyond its research credentials, Chicago also offers a rich cultural landscape, thriving technology ecosystem, and a skyline that stands as a symbol of progress, ready to welcome SC’s global audience to share and showcase their ideas and perspectives that define the state and future of HPC.

HPC has the power to connect people and accelerate discovery. That’s the vision I want to bring to Chicago.

— Kevin Hayden

HPC Unites: Where Computing Meets Ingenuity

Under the banner of “HPC Unites,” SC26 will emphasize the increasingly interconnected nature of HPC, networking, storage, and analysis, as well as the people who drive the advances fueling the industry and society.

“To me, HPC Unites spotlights the shared purpose of scientists, engineers, educators, students, policymakers, and industry leaders,” Hayden said. “HPC Unites underscores our belief that scientific, societal, or environmental challenges are solved only through cooperation – and computing – at scale.”

Hayden’s vision for SC26 also involves strengthening connections via mentorship, outreach, and professional development, particularly initiatives that empower the next generation of leaders in HPC, such as those under Students@SC and special programs like Workforce in IT Networking at SC (WINS).

The Road Ahead

Already underway, planning for SC26 relies on a dedicated network of volunteers to power core SC programs, including SCinet, the technical and student programs, and Exhibits. Together, these teams (and many others) will bring SC26 to life, shaping an experience that honors the legacy of past conferences while looking ahead at how influences such as AI and quantum will change how HPC shapes the future.

 “My mission is to ensure that SC26 continues the tradition of excellence built by the many talented, committed volunteers who inspire new ways to collaborate, connect, and create,” added Hayden. “It takes an entire community working side by side toward this shared goal, and I am happy so many are on my team as we roll out to Chicago.”