An Interview with SMI Senior Advisor Art Bruckheim12/10/10
What is your background, and what led you to work in the military technologies development field? I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and was always good in math. When Sputnik was launched there was a nationwide demand for engineers. No one in my neighborhood knew what an engineer did but you had to be good in math! And so I studied electrical engineering. Upon graduation I got a summer job at what was then the Naval Ordnance Lab in Silver Spring. They offered to send me to graduate school for my PhD and I have remained in the DC area ever since concentrating in R&D in law enforcement and defense related technologies. What does your work as an Advisor to SMI entail and how have you been able to use your expertise to assist SMI clients? As an SMI Senior Advisor I try to focus my experience in developing and managing technology projects in order to strengthen a technical approach. I understand the challenges involved in matching a client's ideas with a potential government program and I try to help the client clearly articulate the advantages of his approach. What has been your biggest accomplishment as an SMI Senior Advisor? I would have to refer to UALR. I and Tony Tether were invited to visit and review their capability. In addition, UALR was petitioning the state legislature for funds for a new nanotechnology laboratory. We spoke to many people during our visit and we were supportive of this new lab. After the visit we learned that the legislature approved funding and I would like to think that our visit and advice contributed to that decision. Do you foresee any future challenges or opportunities in doing business with the Federal Government particularly if the for profit earmark House moratorium stays in place? Working with the government is always a challenge regardless of whether or not the moratorium stays in place. But there will always be a need for innovative ideas and smart people. We all know the numerous problems we face and that creates opportunities for solutions. What advice would you give SMI clients hoping to conduct business with the Federal Government? Obviously the competition for government funding will be more intense so that means that clients should be focused and persistent. A good quality product with demonstrated capability will always be in demand. SMI can make sure that a client's concepts are sound and that they are clearly and concisely presented to government decision makers. Do you have any other recommendations or helpful hints for SMI clients? I think we will all need a lot of patience as well as learning to quickly adapt to whatever new business practices emerge. |
||
