The American Institute of Physics (AIP) welcomed applied physicist Robert G. W. Brown as its new chief executive officer on June 1, 2015. Brown previously served as the chief sensor scientist at the Advanced Technology Center of Rockwell Collins, Inc. and worked concurrently as an adjunct full professor in the Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic of the University of California, Irvine, and in UC Irvine’s Department of Computer Science.

“Dr. Brown’s integrity as a scientist, his high personal achievement and his vision as a business leader will help AIP build upon its successes and chart a path forward to an even brighter future,” said Louis J. Lanzerotti, chairman of the AIP Board of Directors.

Brown comes to AIP with 40 years of experience as a leader in the physical sciences. His accomplishments at Rockwell Collins include building new nano-plasmonic detectors and inventing ultra-fast computing schemes for detecting light in the UV, visible, infrared, and THz regions. He also created ultra-high-index nano-plasmonic glass, which can be used to make ultra-thin and extremely lightweight lenses, for example. Some 25 newly filed patents cover these breakthrough inventions, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office having granted nine to date.

“I am excited to build upon AIP’s strong tradition of member services while fostering the exchange of ideas among physical science and engineering professionals from around the globe,” said Brown.
He added: “I plan to work closely with the Board of Directors to further relationships within the federation’s Member Societies as well as with government officials, policymakers and all levels of physical science professionals and educators.”

Brown’s career includes serving on the UK government’s Home Office Science and Technology Advisory Board and NASA’s International Microgravity Advisory Committee, and also as professor and director of nanotechnology for Northern Ireland. He was elected into the European Academy, Academia Europaea, in 2002. Brown also recently served as treasurer on the Board of Managers of AIP Publishing LLC, a nonprofit scholarly publisher that is wholly owned by AIP.

“Robert is an ideal CEO for AIP,” said Bruce Tromberg, director at the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic. "His leadership positions in academics, government, and industry around the world give him special insight and experience into how to work effectively to create collaborative programs and public-private partnerships."

Visit http://www.aip.org/staff/CEO for more information on Brown's professional background.