Scott Fish, director of the Institute for Advanced Technology (IAT) at The University of Texas at Austin, has been named the Army’s chief scientist within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology.
Fish has taken a leave from the university to serve with the Army. Ian McNab, IAT’s chief scientist, will be acting director of the institute.
“The University of Texas at Austin is proud that the nation can benefit from the expertise and experience Dr. Fish brings to the post of chief scientist,” says Juan Sanchez, the university’s vice president for research.
IAT is a research organization within the Office of the Vice President for Research portfolio. It conducts research on electromagnetic launch, pulsed power, hypervelocity flight and impact ballistics.
As chief scientist, Fish will work to enhance technical interactions to improve the return on the Army’s research and development investment for soldiers and taxpayers.
He will work with the assistant secretary and the deputy assistant secretary for research and technology to maintain awareness of the latest science and technology advances relevant to the Army.
In addition to being the chief scientist for acquisition, logistics and technology, he’ll be vice chief of staff. Fish will also be a liaison to the undersecretary of the Army.
Fish became assistant director of IAT in 2007. He became director in 2010 when Harry Fair, the previous director, retired. Fish, who received a bachelor’s degree from the university, previously worked at IAT from 1993-2000.
He also has worked at Science Applications International Corp., a defense contractor based in McLean, Va., and for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency.
