Dave Van Wie Named Next Director of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Dave Van Wie has been selected to lead the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) as its next director. Van Wie, currently the Air and Missile Defense Sector Head at APL, will succeed Ralph Semmel, who is stepping down after having served in that role since July 2010. His appointment is effective July 14.

“Dave’s strategic acumen, profound understanding of the Lab’s culture, and clear and strong vision for its future make him the right choice to lead APL,” said Johns Hopkins University (JHU) President Ron Daniels.

Van Wie, who joined APL in 1983, currently leads a wide array of programs that are advancing the ability of the nation to defend the homeland, deployed forces, and allies against air and missile threats. Prior to his sector head role, Van Wie led the Laboratory’s programs developing advanced capabilities for precision strike missions, focused in such areas as advanced hypersonic system development, electromagnetic spectrum dominance, and novel long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.

He has long been an active leader in the defense research and development community as well as the broader U.S. science and technology community. Van Wie has published extensively on hypersonic flight, high-temperature fluid dynamics, airbreathing propulsion and plasma aerodynamics and has played key roles in major studies investigating topics of national strategic importance, including hypersonic systems, autonomous systems, ballistic and cruise missile defenses, reusable boosters for space launch, virtual training technologies and hybrid warfare.

“Dave is a distinguished leader and scholar whose groundbreaking contributions to aerospace engineering and national defense have significantly advanced our nation’s security,” said Heather Miller, chair of the APL Board of Managers and a member of the JHU Board of Trustees. “His unparalleled expertise, coupled with his dedication to innovation and education, will serve him well as the next Director, following the visionary leadership of Ralph Semmel.”

“I have had the good fortune to work with Dave Van Wie for more than 25 years,” said Semmel, “and have seen firsthand his unmatched combination of technical expertise and leadership. He champions cross-enterprise collaboration and has a deep understanding of the commercial innovation ecosystem, which is so critical in today’s dynamic environment. As an internationally renowned expert and pioneer in critical defense technologies who is deeply committed to our nation, Dave is ideally suited to be the next Director of APL and will ensure the Lab remains at the forefront of technology advancement.”

“The critical work undertaken by the phenomenal teams at APL has resulted in breakthroughs that have truly ensured our nation’s safety and scientific preeminence,” said Van Wie. “I am energized and excited to lead this amazing institution and its teams as we tackle some of the nation’s most complex challenges. I have been fortunate to be a part of, and later lead, many of those teams, and I know that the dedicated and inspired staff at the Laboratory are focused on creating new capabilities that will help us meet the pacing challenges facing our nation today.”

Van Wie is a member of the Defense Science Board and the National Academy of Engineering and is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He has served previously as a member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board within the National Academies. Van Wie is also a research professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at JHU and is a recipient of the Air Force Award for Meritorious Civilian Service. He earned his B.S. (summa cum laude), M.S. and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins.

Van Wie becomes the ninth director in APL’s 83-year history. Founded on March 10, 1942, APL was created as part of a federal government effort to mobilize scientific resources to address wartime challenges. Today, the Laboratory solves complex research, engineering and analytical problems that present critical challenges to our nation and sponsors such as the Department of Defense, NASA and others. APL also maintains independent research and development programs that pioneer and explore emerging technologies and concepts to address future national priorities.