Mike joined SRI’s Radio Physics Laboratory in 1974 upon completion if his studies at Stanford. His early assignments included several radio communications and signal-intelligence projects. During this time, SRI’s Telecommunications Science Center (TSC) was leading a multi-contractor activity developing the early DARPA packet-radio, a wireless version of the early ARPANET. TSC engineers established a Bay Area testbed where radio performance was tested in a mobile environment.
As the packet radio development was nearing completion, DARPA began thinking about transitioning the packet-radio technology into the military services. Mike put forth the notion of a military testbed to expedite the transition. The idea was to work directly with military users allowing them hands-on experience with the new radios.
When the first military testbed contract was received in 1981, a new department was started within the Radio Physics Laboratory with Mike as the leader. The department of 14 grew rapidly and became a center in 1982. The staff size continued to grow and in 1988 the center became a division with a staff over 100. Today, the division is known as the Information, Telecommunications and Automation Division. Most of the research is performed in Menlo Park, but ITAD also maintains remote offices in Colorado, Kansas, Georgia, and Washington, DC in direct support of clients.
Mike became a member of the US Army Science Board in 1994 and served on the Board until 1998. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Board from 1995-1996 and was the Board Chairman from 1996-1998. In 1998, Mike became a member of the Defense Science Board where he still serves today.
Mike recently took a two-year assignment in the Pentagon where he is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Information, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR)
In his 28 yeas at SRI, Mike has been an outstanding leader: He built a new division, has led the establishment of new long term projects, and has added greatly to SRI’s reputation with the Department of Defense.