Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation CEO Hired

BLACKSBURG, Va., Jan. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thomas M. McNamara Jr., formerly a program area manager of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, has been hired as president and chief executive officer of the newly established Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation, announced Robert Walters, vice president for research at Virginia Tech.

The Applied Research Corporation was established by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors in March 2010 with the mission to foster applied research, development, and management of large-scale contract research projects. "It will extend the university's fundamental research enterprise to applied, translational, and commercialization projects," said Walters.

"McNamara is charged with leading the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation to become an agile and respected university affiliated applied research enterprise with an entrepreneurial culture that will deliver products and innovative solutions ready for commercialization to meet a range of opportunities and national challenges," said Walters.

McNamara's appointment was effective Jan. 3. He will be based at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington when it opens in June and an the 1101 King Street, Alexandria, facility in the meantime.

At the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, McNamara headed the strategic posture office from 2003 until 2007, creating a new laboratory for work with the U.S. Strategic Command. He became program area manager in 2007, establishing a new program to work with the Office of Secretary of Defense, and exceeded all quality, technical and financial objectives for the program area.

McNamara was also a program manager for the Applied Physics Laboratory from 1991 to 1998, and an engineer at the lab from 1983 to 1991. He worked for private industry in the interim. He earned his bachelor of science in ocean engineering from Florida Atlantic University in 1979 and his master of science in technical management from Johns Hopkins in 1995.

About the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation

The mission of the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation is to extend the impact of Virginia Tech's research and development expertise through developing, managing, and performing applied research under contract with government and private sector clients, thereby supporting innovative applications of science and technology and technical assistance to enhance global competitiveness. Projects will include intelligence, cyber products, national security, energy, and health. While funded and operated as a standalone nonprofit corporation, it will collaborate closely with Virginia Tech in technical areas as appropriate to leverage the capabilities and expertise of the university.

For further information about the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation, contact Robert Walters, Virginia Tech vice president for research, at 540-231-6077.

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SOURCE Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)