Speaker Information

The Honorable Zachary J. Lemnios, DDR&E

The Honorable Zachary J. Lemnios was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 19, 2009, and sworn in as Director, Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E) on July 2, 2009. The DDR&E is the principal staff advisor for research and engineering matters to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) and the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense. In this capacity, Mr. Lemnios serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Department of Defense charged with the development and oversight of DoD technology strategy in concert with the Department’s current and future requirements. The goal of DDR&E is to extend the capabilities of current war fighting systems, develop breakthrough capabilities, hedge against an uncertain future through a set of scientific and engineering options and counter strategic surprise. In cooperation with the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology (DUSD(A&T)), DDR&E also provides advice and assistance in developing policies for rapid technology transition.
Mr. Lemnios is a Principal member, Committee on Technology of the National Science and Technology Council; Advisor, Defense Acquisition Board; Chairman, Radiation Hardened Oversight Council (RHOC); Chairman, Defense Science and Technology Advisory Group (DSTAG); Chairman, Armed Services Biomedical Research Evaluation and Management Committee; Chairman, DoD Combat Feeding Research and Engineering Board (CFREB); and Chairman, DoD Biometrics Executive Committee.
Before assuming this position, Mr. Lemnios was the Chief Technology Officer of MIT Lincoln Laboratory, responsible for coordinating technology strategy across the organization and for establishing and growing external strategic relationships to support current and future Laboratory missions. He also served as Assistant Division Head of the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Solid State Division, as a member of the Laboratory's Senior Management Council and as the Co-Chair of the Laboratory's New Technology Initiative (NTI) Board.
Between 2002 and 2005, while at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Mr. Lemnios was Director of the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), and previous to that, the Deputy Director of the Information Processing Technology Office (IPTO). In these positions, he oversaw the development of future research thrusts, analyzed and evaluated program proposals and engagements with commercial, academic organizations and represented DARPA on various national committees.
Mr. Lemnios held various positions within industry at Hughes Aircraft Company, Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Ford Microelectronics, Inc. that led to the development and demonstration of advanced microelectronic components. He has served on numerous DoD, industry and academic committees.
Mr. Lemnios received his BSEE from the University of Michigan and his MSEE from Washington University in St. Louis. He has authored over 40 papers, holds 4 patents in advanced GaAs device and MMIC technology and is a Senior Member of the IEEE.

Major General Patrick Brady, US Army (Ret)

Patrick Brady was commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in the Army Medical Corps after graduating from ROTC in 1959. His first posting was to Berlin as a medical platoon leader. In 1963, he became a helicopter pilot and went to Vietnam where he was assigned to the 57th Medical Detachment under the command of the legendary Major Charles L. Kelly. Major Kelly’s efforts set the standard for battlefield helicopter medical evacuation that began the highly respected DUSTOFF tradition of total dedication to saving the wounded that continues today. When Maj Kelly was killed in action on 1 July 1964, Captain Brady took command of the 57th Medical’s Detachment A in Soc Trang and Maj Kelly’s call sign, DUSTOFF, was adopted to identify all helicopter ambulance units. On 6 January 1968, during his second tour in Vietnam, Major Brady was commander of the 54th Medical Detachment in Chu Lai, when he volunteered to rescue two badly wounded South Vietnamese soldiers in enemy territory. Flying a UH-1H helicopter in thick fog with close-range enemy fire in the evacuation area, he was able to locate and rescue the soldiers. Later in the day, he was called to another fogged-in area where American casualties lay close to enemy lines. Earlier, two helicopters had been shot down trying to reach the site. Over the next hour, Maj Brady made four flights to rescue all 39 GIs. On his third mission of the day, Brady once again put down at a landing zone in enemy territory. During his descent, the controls of his helicopter were hit but he was able to evacuate the wounded. Back at base, he got a replacement helicopter and returned to action. He was watching another medevac crew trying to extract members of a trapped American platoon when a mine exploded nearby, causing the helicopter to leave without the casualties. Maj Brady touched down as close to the marks left by the preceding craft’s skids as he could to avoid mines. The soldiers were reluctant to cross the minefield so his crewmen had to go get them. All were brought aboard except one who was being carried on a stretcher by two of Brady’s crewmembers. They had almost reached the chopper when one of the stretcher bearers stepped on a mine. The explosion blew a hole in the helicopter but Brady managed to get the damaged craft off the ground and deliver the soldiers to medical aid. He picked up another helicopter and kept flying, evacuating a total of 51 men that day. Four hundred holes were counted in the helicopters he flew. For his actions that day, he received the Medal of Honor. Patrick Brady retired as a Major General in 1993 after 34 years of service and was inducted into the DUSTOFF Hall of Fame on 17 February 2001. Since retirement, he has supported many service organizations and currently serves as chairman of the Citizens Flag Alliance, a coalition of organizations determined to protect the American flag from physical desecration.