Stan Franklin was an American cognitive scientist, computer scientist, and mathematician. He was the principal developer of IDA (Intelligent Distribution Agent) and its successor LIDA (Learning Intelligent Decision Agent). LIDA is regarded as one of the most influential and well-developed biologically inspired cognitive architectures to date.

A native Memphian, Dr. Franklin earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Memphis in 1959, and his PhD from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1963. He served on the faculties of the University of Florida, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Memphis. 

While at the University of Memphis, Stan Franklin founded the Cognitive Computing Research Group (CCRG) and co-founded the Institute for Intelligent Systems (IIS). He also held the honorary title of W. Harry Feinstone Interdisciplinary Research Professor.

Over the course of his long career, Stan Franklin was a prolific researcher. He published hundreds of research articles and the book Artificial Minds. At the time of his passing, he was still actively conducting research and mentoring future generations of cognitive scientists.