MoreRon Townsend, Ph.D., president of Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) and director of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, will oversee Battelle’s global laboratory operations beginning in mid-January 2009. Townsend succeeds Jeffrey Wadsworth, Ph.D., as Battelle's executive vice president of Global Laboratory Operations. Wadsworth will become president and chief executive officer of Battelle on January 1, 2009, succeeding Carl Kohrt, who is retiring after seven years as Battelle's leader.
“Ron has a proven track record of success in business development, strategic planning and corporate management,” said Kohrt. “He understands the need for leading organizations, government research institutions, and universities to partner to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.”
Townsend is experienced in managing multi-million-dollar contracts involving diverse technical programs by bringing together collaborative partnerships involving universities, industry, and government agencies such as the Department of Energy, NASA, the Center for Disease Control, and the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.
During the past decade, he has successfully led ORAU to become a nonprofit organization of increasing influence in advancing scientific research and education. Jim Siedow, chair of the ORAU board of directors, said, “Ron Townsend is a strategic, visionary leader who has achieved unparalleled success advancing ORAU’s business and university partnership operations. He is a key loss for ORAU and for Oak Ridge, but he will be a terrific addition to Battelle.”
Prior to joining ORAU, Townsend served as commandant for the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He holds a doctorate in meteorology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mathematics from Kansas State University, and he served in the Air Force for 25 years.
Visit www.battelle.org for more information.
“Ron has a proven track record of success in business development, strategic planning and corporate management,” said Kohrt. “He understands the need for leading organizations, government research institutions, and universities to partner to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.”
Townsend is experienced in managing multi-million-dollar contracts involving diverse technical programs by bringing together collaborative partnerships involving universities, industry, and government agencies such as the Department of Energy, NASA, the Center for Disease Control, and the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.
During the past decade, he has successfully led ORAU to become a nonprofit organization of increasing influence in advancing scientific research and education. Jim Siedow, chair of the ORAU board of directors, said, “Ron Townsend is a strategic, visionary leader who has achieved unparalleled success advancing ORAU’s business and university partnership operations. He is a key loss for ORAU and for Oak Ridge, but he will be a terrific addition to Battelle.”
Prior to joining ORAU, Townsend served as commandant for the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He holds a doctorate in meteorology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mathematics from Kansas State University, and he served in the Air Force for 25 years.
Visit www.battelle.org for more information.
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