April 28, 2000
Colloquium Topic: DARPA in the 21st Century
DARPA in the 21st Century will include highlights of DARPA¹s mission to solve National-level problems, enable operational dominance for the U.S. military of the future, and develop and exploit high-risk, high-payoff technologies. The speaker will explain DARPA¹s current technology focus areas, and expand on and provide details on some of the initiatives that DARPA is undertaking for the future.
Colloquium Speaker: Frank L. Fernandez
Dr. Frank L. Fernandez received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Science in Applied Mechanics from Stevens Institute of Technology 1960-1961 and his Ph.D. in Aeronautics from California Institute of Technology in 1969. He was appointed as Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), on May 10, 1998. DARPA is the principal agency within the Department of Defense for research, development, and demonstration of concepts, devices, and systems that provide highly advanced military capabilities. As the Director, Dr. Fernandez is responsible for management of the agency¹s projects for high-payoff, innovative research and development. Until his appointment as Director, DARPA, Dr. Fernandez held the position of President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for AETC Inc., which he founded in 1994. Prior to this position, he was President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Areté Associates, a Los Angeles-based applied research firm that Dr. Fernandez founded in 1976. From 1975 to 1976, he served as Vice President at Physical Dynamics Inc., and from 1972-1975, he worked as a Program Manager for R&D Associates. Dr. Fernandez previously worked for the Aerospace Corporation, where he progressed from Researcher to Department Manager to Associate Group Director. Until his appointment at DARPA, Dr. Fernandez was a member of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Executive Panel. In this capacity, he provided advice to the CNO on a variety of issues. He is Director of the Green Foundation, a non-profit endowment for Earth Sciences, and is listed in Who¹s Who in Science. Dr. Fernandez is also a member of the New York Academy of Sciences.