A system and method for launching data parallel and task parallel application threads. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a global thread launcher operable to retrieve a launch request from a queue and track buffer resources associated with the launch request and allocate output buffers therefor and (2) a local thread launcher associated with a streaming multiprocessor and operable to receive the launch request from the global thread launcher, set a program counter and resource pointers of pipelines of the streaming multiprocessor and receive reports from pipelines thereof as threads complete execution.