John Sommerer has been appointed the first director of
Science and Technology at
APL. In his new position, Sommerer is charged with
ensuring APL's technological strength will meet current and
future challenges in light of rapidly advancing technology
and the globalization of technology and technical
capabilities.
Additionally, Sommerer will ensure the Lab's technical
strategy is aligned with its various business area goals.
"It's important for our business areas to focus on
technical challenges of appropriate scope and significance,
and I'll help to ensure that they have the right resources
— both internal and external — to carry out
their tasks," Sommerer said.
He will help form partnerships with outside
organizations, Johns Hopkins academic departments, other
universities and high-tech laboratories to augment APL's
skills and expertise so that the Lab can better meet a
sponsor's needs. "It's incumbent on us to maintain and
strengthen our technical prowess, and [to] make sure the
government doesn't experience technological surprise in the
areas for which we serve as their chief advisers," Sommerer
said.
He will continue serving as the Lab's chief technology
officer and as chair of APL's Science and Technology
Council.
Sommerer is an internationally recognized expert in
nonlinear dynamics and complex systems. During his 25-year
career at APL, he has served as director of the Milton S.
Eisenhower Research and Technology Development Center and
in other supervisory and project management roles
associated with submarine technology, tactics and
operations.
Sommerer is vice chair of the U.S. Naval Research
Advisory Committee and a member of the National Academy of
Sciences' Technical Assessment Board for the Army Research
Laboratories. He holds a doctorate in physics, and master's
and bachelor's degrees in systems science and
mathematics.