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WASHINGTON,
D.C. – The U.S. Senate today confirmed William
Alan Jeffrey, a veteran manager of federal science and technology
development, as the 13th director of the U.S. Commerce Department’s
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Jeffrey, 45, was nominated by President Bush on May 25,
2005, to succeed Arden Bement, who was appointed director
of the National Science Foundation in November of last year.
NIST Deputy Director Hratch Semerjian has served as acting
director in the interim.
“I’m very pleased to welcome Bill Jeffrey to
the Department of Commerce team,” said Commerce Secretary
Carlos Gutierrez. “He brings a strong background in
science and technology policy and the practicalities of research
management to one of our nation’s finest research laboratories
and an institution whose work affects almost every aspect
of our daily lives.”
Jeffrey has been involved in federal science and technology
programs and policy since 1988. Previous to his appointment
as director of NIST he served as senior director for homeland
and national security and the assistant director for space
and aeronautics at the Office of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP) within the Executive Office of the President. Prior
to that he was the deputy director for the Advanced Technology
Office and chief scientist for the Tactical Technology Office
with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
While at DARPA, Jeffrey developed research programs in communications,
computer network security, novel sensor development and space
operations.
Prior to joining DARPA, Jeffrey was the assistant deputy
for technology at the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office,
where he supervised sensor development for the Predator and
Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and the development
of common standards that allow for cross-service and cross-agency
transfer of imagery and intelligence products. Jeffrey also
spent several years working at the Institute for Defense
Analyses performing technical analyses in support of the
Department of Defense.
Jeffrey received his Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University
and his B.Sc. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology. He resides in Herndon, Va.
As an
agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s
Technology Administration, NIST develops and promotes measurement,
standards and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate
trade and improve the quality of life.
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