The National Photonics Initiative (NPI) welcomes its new Steering Committee Chair Alan Willner, who has served on the committee since its inception. Alan currently serves as the Steven and Kathryn Sample Chaired Professor of Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC). Alan also serves as the Associated Director for the Center for Photonics Technology at USC, is a member of the Defense Sciences Research Council, a 16-member body that provides reports to the DARPA Director and Office Directors, and was co-chair of the US National Academies Committee on the Optics and Photonics Study (also called Harnessing Light II). In addition to experience serving on several scientific advisory boards for small companies and advising venture capital firms, Alan founded Phaethon Communications where he worked as CTO. Alan is currently serving as the President-elect of the Optical Society.
In March, Tom Baer stepped down from his role as the first chairman of the NPI Steering Committee. During his tenure, Tom built a stronger, more united optics and photonics community. His commitment launched the NPI, helped to shape the future IP-IMI and created a unique role for the optics and photonics industry in the White House BRAIN Initiative. Our community is deeply grateful for Tom's dedication, hard work, guidance and commitment to photonics. Tom will continue to serve the NPI as a member of the Steering Committee and chair of the Photonics Industry Neuroscience Group.
The NPI Steering Committee is comprised of:
Eugene Arthurs – SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE)
Phil Bucksbaum – Stanford University
Tom Baer - Stanford University
Meredith Lee – Stanford University
Bob Lieberman - Lumoptix LLC
Jason Mulliner – Edmund Optics
Liz Rogan – The Optical Society (OSA)
Matt Weed – Open Photoincs, Inc.