Dr. Midzor, newly appointed Director of the Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), participated in an interview sharing her personal and professional journey, priorities for CTL, and perspective on the evolving landscape of communications technology.
With a proven track record for advancing cutting-edge technologies and collaborating with the government, industry, and the general public, Dr. Midzor is set to guide CTL’s mission to advance connectivity, enhance performance, grow the U.S. economy, and improve lives.
How do you define your role at NIST CTL?
My role at CTL mainly falls into two buckets: setting the lab's strategic priorities and fostering engagement. I focus on where we want to go, balancing resources to maximize our impact for the community and industry and engaging with stakeholders to align our work with NIST’s mission and federal policies.
What is your vision for CTL?
CTL is the youngest and smallest lab at NIST — small and mighty. My vision is to strategically grow the Lab while maintaining our strong team dynamic. We are developing seven key roadmaps to advance communication technologies across a broad portfolio, including space communications, quantum communications, autonomous systems, spectrum science, 6G, public safety (in conjunction with FirstNet), and our measurement and calibrations services. These roadmap initiatives ensure we remain at the forefront of technology and innovation while building strong collaborations with other NIST labs and external partners.
What brought you to NIST, and what excites you most about working here?
I have been fascinated by the science of measurement since junior high school and An Introduction to Error Analysis by John Taylor has been my favorite book for years. NIST felt like coming home – I get to immerse myself in both measurement science and physics, my true passions.
At CTL, I am excited by the groundbreaking work we are doing, from creating a new internet to exploring 6G and beyond. Our work on AI-native and dynamic communication systems is particularly thrilling, as it is poised to reshape the field. It is an incredible time to be part of such innovative research.
What is your career background, and who inspired your journey?
I have had an unconventional career path, starting as a physicist but then moving into business consulting at a large firm. There, I worked on strategic planning and operational efficiency in industries ranging from mining to healthcare. Later, I spent over 20 years at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in electronic warfare, contributing to programs like the F-35, EA-6B and other tactical jammers. When an opportunity arose at NIST, I took the leap to pursue my passion for measurement science. Working at NIST has been an amazing experience. The community here is incredibly positive, collaborative, and solution focused. My advice? When opportunity knocks, take the leap—you never know where it might lead.
I credit several mentors for shaping my career. At NAVAIR, Toufue Chang challenged me with ambitious goals, while colleague Brian Krinsley guided me toward the right career moves at the right times. Marla Dowell, the former CTL Director, built a strong community, ensured that I had broad and insightful involvement across all of NIST, and showed me how rewarding this role could be.
What do you see as the biggest challenges in communications technology, and how do you plan to address them?
The complexity of modern systems is one of the biggest challenges. Everything is interconnected, and understanding those interdependencies and how systems interact with their environments is critical. However, one of the hardest things about science is the “people factor”. Measuring is hard and requires ingenuity but ensuring that your solution is workable for a broader community can be an even larger challenge, especially internationally. Having the right partnerships and collaborations is paramount as we move forward and impact all communities. NIST is uniquely positioned to tackle this challenge, thanks to our talented staff, state-of-the-art facilities, and collaborative approach.
What is the best advice you have received, and how has it shaped your career?
I have always been a planner. Early in my career, someone told me, “If you do not know where you want to be in ten years, how will you know when you have gotten there?”. That stuck with me, and I have made it a point to set both long-term goals and short-term steps to achieve them. Having mentors to guide me has also been crucial.
The other advice I live by is to pursue what excites you. After college, I committed to only doing work that gets me leaping of bed in the morning, excited for the new day. That passion drives everything I do, which is why I (almost) never need an alarm clock.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I participate in medieval reenactments, including sword fighting and jousting on horseback. I even have 15th-century armor I fight in! I am also deeply involved with the Society for Creative Anachronisms, where I am responsible for overseeing all the martial activities for its 19,000 members. It is a fun way to explore the past while working on cutting-edge technology during the day.
Looking ahead, Dr. Midzor is excited to continue advancing efforts in communications technology, ensuring CTL remains at the forefront of innovation while fostering collaboration. To learn more about Dr. Midzor, click here.