Dexter G. Smith, a member of the principal professional
staff at the Applied
Physics Laboratory and the laboratory's biomedicine
business area executive, has been appointed program chair
for Electrical and Computer Engineering in the university's
Engineering Programs for
Professionals.
In making the appointment, Nicholas Jones, dean of the
Whiting School of
Engineering, said Smith "has been an active member of
the Electrical and
Computer Engineering faculty for many years, teaching
and developing new courses as well as serving as the
program's vice-chair for the past seven years. He has a
sound vision for moving the program forward, and I believe
he is ideally suited to carry on the tradition of
excellence of this curriculum."
Smith holds bachelor's and master's degrees in
biomedical engineering, and a second master's degree and a
doctorate in electrical engineering, all from Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute. Prior to joining APL in 1995, he
worked at Gould Electronics, Allied Signal and Noise
Cancellation Technologies.
In his role at APL, Smith is responsible for the
business and personnel development of the newly formed
Biomedicine Branch. His duties include military projects
that help ensure the survivability, sustainment and
performance of soldiers. Examples include the development
and testing of improved body armor, better first aid kits
for use in remote areas and enhanced prosthetic limbs.
Smith created the organizational structure to bring in
and execute the largest Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency program ever awarded to APL: Revolutionizing
Prosthetics 2009. He is actively involved in other medical
projects, including prostate cancer detection technology
with the School of Medicine's Department of Urology and a
battlefield ventilator for the U.S. Army.
Smith said, "The Electrical and Computer Engineering
Program has a long history of providing students with a
challenging program that prepares them for their chosen
career. I am honored to carry on the tradition of service
to our students and their employers. Above all, we strive
to prepare our students for the technological shifts that
will inevitably occur throughout their careers."
Smith holds numerous U.S. patents. He is a senior
member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers, a full member of the scientific research society
Sigma XI and a licensed professional engineer in
Maryland.
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