He holds a doctorate from the University of Mississippi in management information systems with a specialization in computational intelligence. He has extensive experience working in the insurance industry, including agency operations, casualty underwriting, and brokering at Lloyd's of London, in London, England. Although his computer experience dates to the late 1970s, it was during his time as a casualty underwriter that he became interested in the application of technology to the underwriting process. Much of Kitchens' research has involved the application of artificial intelligence to underwriting and claims analysis.