Academic Research in Space and Defense Mecca

Abstract

The genesis of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) becoming a research-intensive university date to June 20th, 1961, when Werner von Braun, the first Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center, delivered his historic speech to the Alabama legislators, which led to the creation of UAH’s Research Institute. The primary mission of the institute was to provide basic research services in problem areas encountered at the Marshall Space Flight Center and the Army Ordnance Missile Command on the Redstone Arsenal. As the Redstone Arsenal has grown, UAH has adapted its facilities and infrastructure that enable collaborative research aligned with Space and Defense. From Directed Energy to Hypersonic propulsion, academic institutions can and will play a critical role in Space and Defense research that is rapidly moving from fundamental research to export controlled and CUI (controlled unclassified information). The talk will provide a VP for Research’s perspective of how researchers can navigate the realm of space and defense research in an academic setting. 

Bio

Dr. Robert Lindquist has served as the Vice President for Research and Economic Development at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) since in May 2018, overseeing all aspects of research development, contract and grant accounting, research compliance and ethics, and commercialization. As the anchor tenant in Cummings Research Park and with close proximity to Redstone Arsenal, UAH and the Office for Research and Economic Development continue to successfully partner with many contractors and federal agencies, growing research expenditures while contributing to the academic mission of the university. While serving at UAH, Lindquist has held a variety of administrative positions including Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Director of the Center for Applied Optics, and Department Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering. As a professor and active researcher, he has secured research funding as the PI for NSF, NASA, the Army, and Industry. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Penn State in 1992. Lindquist has over 140 publications to his credit and holds 15 patents.