Leadership Changes at UDRI

Michael V. (Mickey) McCabe, associate vice president for research and director of the University of Dayton Research Institute, will be promoted to vice president for research and executive director of UDRI on July 1.

McCabe, 56, will take over for Gordon A. Sargent, who is retiring from University administration after 20 years of service. During that time, Sargent served as dean of the School of Engineering, director of UDRI, dean of the Graduate School and vice president for research.

Sargent is taking a year's sabbatical doing research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, then will return to UD’s faculty to teach and continue research.

McCabe joined the Research Institute in 1993 and became director in 2000. In the past five years, UDRI has nearly doubled its sponsored funding. Under McCabe's leadership, the Research Institute has become a regional leader in technology-based economic development and a national leader in materials research.

UDRI is second in the nation for materials research conducted at universities, according to the National Science Foundation, with annual revenues exceeding $65 million. The largest non-medical research facility on a Catholic university campus, UDRI employs more than 365 engineers, scientists, technicians and support staff in laboratories on campus, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, and Warner Robins Air Logistics Center near Macon, Ga.

McCabe’s prior experience includes directing the development and application of advanced composite materials for GE Aircraft Engines, where he was responsible for the material selection, process development and the production of certification fan blades for the GE 90 engine. McCabe holds a bachelor's, master's and doctorate in chemistry, as well as an MBA.

Under Sargent’s leadership, UDRI expanded its traditional strengths to other technologies, such as airworthiness assurance engineering, aging aircraft structural technology, nondestructive evaluation-based prediction of failure of materials and rapid prototyping. Sargent secured the funding required to support faculty, research staff, students and programs.

Sargent’s leadership in the founding of the University’s Graduate School was particularly impressive, said Fred Pestello, UD's provost and senior vice president for educational affairs. “He listened, responded and persisted in his advocacy for this essential component,” Pestello said.    

“Ultimately, it was largely due to his leadership acumen and patience that we have a graduate school today. It is difficult to imagine the University of Dayton in the 21st century without it and the role it serves in our journey of excellence.”

June 8, 2005

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