On Might 31, Heidi Hsu, Division of Protection Chief Know-how Officer and Beneath Secretary of Protection for Analysis and Know-how, introduced Eric Evans with the Division of Protection (DoD) Distinguished Public Service Award. The award is the Secretary of Protection’s highest honor given to a civilian for excellent contributions to the Division of Protection. Evans was chosen in recognition of his management as director of MIT Lincoln Laboratory and as vice chair and chair of the Protection Science Board (DSB).
“I’ve gotten to know Eric nicely over the previous three years and am deeply grateful for his management, positivity, imaginative and prescient, mind and humility,” Xu stated in a speech at a ceremony on the institute Might 31. “Eric has the drive and talent to confront and remedy a few of our nation’s hardest issues, and his excellent public service will proceed to have an immeasurable impression on the Division of Protection and the nation for many years to return.”
Evans served in each roles for greater than a decade, fostering relationships on the highest ranges throughout the Division of Protection and advising eight Secretaries of Protection and 7 Deputy Secretaries of Protection since turning into director of the lab in 2006. Beneath his management, the lab has delivered superior capabilities for nationwide safety in a variety of expertise areas, together with cybersecurity, area surveillance, organic protection, synthetic intelligence, laser communications and quantum computing.
Evans ensured that the lab may deal with current Division of Protection priorities in addition to new and future threats. He foresaw the necessity and established three new technical divisions: Cybersecurity and Information Science, Homeland Defenseand Biotechnology and Human SystemsWhen the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he rapidly pivoted the lab to assist within the nation’s response, and he advocated for the modernization of key testing websites to make sure America’s competitiveness in an ever-evolving protection surroundings. Reagan Proving Grounds The Institute served as a scientific advisor and secured funding for state-of-the-art services similar to: Compound Semiconductor Research Institute – Microsystem Integration FacilityWe additionally strengthened ties with the MIT campus in a analysis collaboration to drive innovation and increase instructional alternatives to develop the Division of Protection’s subsequent technology of STEM expertise.
In parallel, Evans served on the DSB, the first committee offering science and expertise recommendation to senior DoD leaders. Evans served as DSB Vice Chair from 2014 to 2020 and has served as Chair since 2020. Through the years, Evans has led or supported over 30 DSB research of direct significance to the DoD, most notably launching the New Strategic Choices Standing Subcommittee, which is concentrated on figuring out techniques and applied sciences to organize for future protection wants.
“This medal is a superb and well-deserved recognition of Eric’s contributions to MIT and to nationwide safety,” stated Ian Waits, MIT’s vice provost for analysis.
Evans will step down as director of Lincoln Laboratory on July 1 and transfer to a professorship on the MIT campus, the place he plans to strengthen ties between the laboratory and the MIT campus and proceed collaborating with Division of Protection leaders.
