Leon Gommans received his PhD in computer science in 2014 from University of Amsterdam on the topic multi-domain authorization systems. He started to work in 2008 for Air France KLM Group as IT Infrastructure Architect. After receiving his PhD, he joined the CIO office as Science Officer, bringing academic research alongside business and industry challenges. He was appointed as endowed professor “Data Exchange Systems” at University of Amsterdam in 2019.  

Leon started his research in 1998 as part of an IETF research group (RFC 2903-2906) and subsequently Global Grid Forum (GFD 38, 83, 142). He validated these concepts in the context of e-infrastructures at University of Amsterdam. From the start, his research recognized that performing multi-domain authorization is both a protocol- and a business issue, in particular when considering the question “How to organize trust”. Leon started to apply his multi-domain authorization concepts in the area of data sharing in 2015, where trust is a key concern. He became part of the SAE Int. HM-1 WG in 2017, where he met with SAE-ITC and helped to start its ExchangeWell program. He also joined G-31 for blockchain based data sharing and G-34, working on data management for AI development. He is member of the SAE Int. Digital and Date Steering Group. Using his research, he helped shape IDCA.

Leon volunteered between 2002-2010 as board member of the Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association (KNVvL) where he represented the Netherlands in Europe Air Sports, working with EASA to shape the regulatory aspects for Flight Crew Licensing and Part-M for recreational aviation.