UMass' Wilson to Chair Defense Technology Initiative (Mass High Tech)

By James M. Connolly

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Former University of Massachusetts president Jack Wilson has been named chairman of the Defense Technology Initiative, a consortium of companies, schools and military installations that advocate for the New England defense sector.

Wilson, who retired from UMass in June, is presently serving as the interim president of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate, and serves as a professor at UMass Boston and UMass Lowell.

Joining him on the DTI board are Fred Strader, president and CEO of Textron Systems Corp. in Wilmington, and Lisa Aucoin, director of soldier solutions at BAE Systems in Hudson, N.H.
Christopher Anderson, president of the DTI and the group’s parent organization the Massachusetts High Tech Council, said in a press release, “Jack’s highly successful career and effective partnerships with us on numerous initiatives during his tenure at UMass will be a huge asset to DTI.“

DTI efforts include the MHTC’s Innovation Access Network, a Web-based network connecting technology companies with public and private sector customers. DTI’s member organizations include Lockheed Martin, Natick Soldier Systems Center, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology as members.
  
DTI, originally founded by MHTC to limit military base closings in the region, said it is currently developing a regional strategy to strengthen New England’s role in the nation’s defense and security in light of pressure to reduce federal spending.