News Release

Wesley D. Blakeslee, a Johns Hopkins University lawyer with long experience in commercialization of technology and licensing of intellectual property, has been appointed acting director of the Johns Hopkins Office of Technology Transfer.

He also will serve as acting director of technology transfer for the School of Medicine, recognizing that school's particular interest in bringing its inventions and discoveries to the marketplace. Blakeslee replaces Jill Tarzian Sorensen, who resigned.

Blakeslee has been associate general counsel at Johns Hopkins since 1999, responsible for the complex legal issues involved in intellectual property matters, technology licensing and transfer, sponsored research agreements, and export and import controls. Previously, he had been since 1984 the chief executive officer of Blakeslee, Wallace and Associates, focusing his legal practice on technology development, acquisitions and licensing. He managed successful new companies and assisted more than 50 startup companies

Prior to beginning his law career, Blakeslee was an engineering manager at NASA, where he managed a software design, development and implementation group.

"Wes's skills and experience and his close association with the Office of Technology Transfer over the years make him an ideal choice to lead the office during this interim period," said Ted Poehler, vice provost for research at Johns Hopkins. "He is well-known nationally not only for his legal skills but also for his wide-ranging business experience, management expertise and technology background."

Sorensen led Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer during an important period of organizational change, Poehler said. She is leaving to pursue areas of personal interest in technology transfer policy and in the non-monetary, humanitarian impact of technology transfer.

"Jill strengthened the university's infrastructure in technology transfer," Poehler said. "She introduced a distributed organizational model which provides technology transfer staff to work with faculty inventors in the various Johns Hopkins divisions and to accommodate the varying needs of the schools."

Blakeslee and the Office of Technology Transfer staff will build on this infrastructure, Poehler said.

"Wes will focus on honing efficient business processes and building on our current momentum," he said.

Blakeslee is a 1969 engineering graduate of the Pennsylvania State University. He earned his law degree at the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore in 1976.