New Director for Technology Parterships

As a Congressional Science Fellow, John E. Leland spent the last year in Washington, D.C., where he developed legislation and advised U.S. Rep. Tony Hall, D-Dayton, on science and technology issues.

In October, he will join the University of Dayton as director for technology partnerships after a 16-year stint as a researcher at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

"I'm very excited to come to an organization that has the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that the University of Dayton Research Institute has," said Leland, 38, of Kettering. "I'm excited to be involved at the intersection of research, intellectual property and the commercialization of new technology."

UDRI, the largest not-for-profit research-and-development organization in the region, performs more than $40 million worth of sponsored research annually. Its researchers hold 156 patents. In the technology commercialization arena, UDRI holds 113 licensing agreements with industry to market such inventions as a "smart dipstick" and microwavable clothing. A number of projects throughout UDRI's history have captured the public's imagination, ranging from a novel bladeless windmill to ceramic orthopedic implants.

In his new role, Leland will direct the transfer and commercialization of the University's technology and support the business development and contract administration activities of UDRI.

"He will also develop collaborative partnerships involving UDRI operating divisions, UD academic departments, external industrial organizations and community-based technology advancement organizations," said Gordon Sargent, vice president for graduate studies and research. "He has strengths in business innovation, technology transfer, and science and technology programs."

At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Leland supervised a research group in the propulsion directorate, where researchers developed lasers and high-powered microwaves for future aircraft. Leland holds four patents, with three pending, on such things as heat exchanger and miniature heat pipe innovations.

He's won two technology transfer awards. The Federal Laboratory Consortium recognized his work with a small business to commercialize an environmentally friendly heat pump technology. The heat pump can be used to both heat and cool a truck sleeper cab without running the truck's engine. He also received Wright Laboratory Director's Citation for Technology Transfer for his leadership on an automotive research outreach team.

Last year, he applied to be a Congressional Science Fellow through the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. As an aide to Hall, he developed a piece of legislation that "has become the Air Force's number one legislative priority for the year." If approved, it will allow the Department of Defense to offer early retirement to senior-level employees and hire younger people -- an effort to avoid a sudden void that a large group of scheduled retirements will have on the Air Force in the next five years, according to Leland.

"I was one of the very few fellows who had the experience of developing legislation," he said. "It was a very heady experience."

Since 1994, Leland has volunteered in the Dayton Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, where he served on the board of directors in 1998-99.

He holds three degrees in mechanical engineering -- a bachelor's degree from the University of Akron, a master's degree from the University of Dayton and a doctoral degree from the University of Kentucky.

Leland replaces Lloyd Huff, who retired in March.

September 29, 2000

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