Google on Thursday announced that it has hired internet pioneer Vinton Cerf to become its "chief internet evangelist," reports Reuters. Cerf was hired away from MCI (which is now merging with Verizon) and is responsible for exploring new internet applications for Google. He is widely known as the "Father of the Internet" for his role in developing the TCP/IP protocol. He is also chairman of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and will continue in that capacity there, according to Red Herring.

At Google, Cerf will help the company build its network infrastructure, architecture, systems, and standards. Google CEO Eric Schmidt hailed him as one of the great technology leaders: "His vision for technology helped create entire industries that have transformed many parts of our lives."

"This medium (the internet) will enjoy wider-spread use than television, radio, or phones, and will ultimately expand beyond planet Earth," Cerf said. "Google has always believed in doing things differently, and I believe that places us in a unique position to help bring even the wildest internet visions into reality."

Cerf will also continue his work on the Interplanetary Network, a project of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab that aims to extend the internet to planet-to-planet communications.