91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­Meets with Department of Defense Research Leaders

Oct 28, 2013

91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly’s Director of Government Relations Rick Maxey, Director of and Robert I. MacCuspie, Ph.D. and Professor Ryan Integlia, Ph.D. were among representatives from 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­β€™s 12 public universities who participated in the first C.W. Bill Young Research Day of the State University System of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The one-day workshop with key defense leaders was the first of its kind for the State University System (SUS) of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ and served as a tremendous opportunity for higher education institutions like 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly to learn first-hand about the research needs of the DoD, one of the federal government’s largest funders of research grants.

β€œWe established valuable relationships with some of the DoD’s top research administrators, several of whom expressed serious interest in partnering with us,” said Maxey. β€œWe were also able to get a good sense of what the DoD’s needs are, and that provides our faculty the opportunity to focus their research proposals on topics and programs that increase 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly’s competitiveness for funding.”

The event kicked off with an introduction from Interim Chancellor Jan Ignash, followed by a presentation from Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering Alan Shaffer, who provided an overview of how 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly and other 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ universities can participate in DoD research and development.

Attendees also heard from key research leaders from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency (IARPA) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the military’s research priorities, challenges, budgets and latest initiatives. Potential areas of research need ranged from the development of remote sensing applications to understanding environmental factors for communicable diseases in underserved communities.

β€œIt was exciting to learn that many of the degree programs that 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly is offering align well with the specific mission needs identified by the DoD, including nanotechnology, big data, health informatics and mechanical and electrical engineering,” MacCuspie said. β€œI think Poly’s innovative applied research programs are very attractive to DoD research administrators.”

β€œAs a new university, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly has the nimbleness to design our curriculum and research programs so they are responsive to the needs of the DoD and other major research funders as they change and evolve. That’s a major advantage,” added Integlia.