In May, the Research & Innovation Office welcomed James Olson as the Executive Director of National Security Research, a role designed to engage researchers across campus with federal and industry sponsors in this sector.
National security is widely understood to refer to a variety of dimensions nations must address to provide security, including economic, energy, food and environmental security, as well as resilience to the effects of national disasters. These are areas in which CU Boulder already conducts important research and seeks opportunities to expand its impact on humanity.
Specifically, James will provide domain expertise to campus, and match interested faculty and researchers with federally funded research opportunities and industry partners. He will also identify challenges, opportunities and innovative solutions to growing our research impact across these sectors.
In parallel with his arrival, we will form a National Security Faculty Advisory Board composed of faculty and researchers with experience and expertise in these areas. Ultimately, he will help position CU Boulder as a valued resource and thought leader for federal and industry initiatives in these sectors.
Relevant experience
James brings more than 30 years of experience in strategy, program management and leadership in defense and commercial science and technology systems. After completing a successful 24-year military career, he continued supporting defense and commercial programs delivering sophisticated science and technology systems that created revenue growth for large Fortune 500 companies like Ball Aerospace and Raytheon.
James’ background and achievements include the full spectrum of satellite acquisition, environmental prediction and information technology systems and services. His expertise and corporate experience include directing profit and loss activities, corporate strategy, C-level coordination and developing internal and external customer relationships. Most recently, James leveraged his knowledge of space technology acquisition as an entrepreneur and created and sold a business concept for a future space-based sensing system.
He will start by doing extensive outreach to become acquainted with faculty and researchers who are doing work in key areas. His engagement with researchers and faculty across campus, and with potential funders, will frame our strategic focus and grow opportunities.
James will be collocated with the Office of Industry Collaboration at Pearl East. Anyone who would like to reach out directly to James can do so at james.olson@colorado.edu.