NSF Names Greg Hager Assistant Director for the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate
By Matt Hazenbush, Director of Communications
Following a nationwide search, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced yesterday that it has selected long-time CRA contributor Dr. Greg Hager as the next Assistant Director for the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate.
Dr. Hager has been a member of the faculty at Johns Hopkins University for more than 25 years, most recently serving as the Mandell Bellmore Professor of Computer Science and the Founding Director of the Johns Hopkins Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare.
A highly-respected member of the computing research community, Dr. Hager has made significant contributions not only to his research areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning, but also as a leader in the areas of policy, visioning, and how computing research can impact the wider society.
“NSF has made an excellent selection in Greg to lead the CISE Directorate,” said Nancy Amato, Chair of the CRA Board of Directors. “His foundational research contributions in vision-based robotics and its applications for healthcare and manufacturing, combined with his range of experience spanning academia and industry and his commitment to maintaining our country’s competitiveness in computing research and education, make him the ideal person to fill this important position.”
Service to CRA
Dr. Hager has been a long-time contributor to CRA and its subcommittees, including serving on the CRA Board of Directors from 2014-2018.
He was a Council Member of the Computing Community Consortium (CCC) from 2010-2017, which included time serving as the Chair from 2014-2016 and the Vice Chair from 2013-2014. He organized and participated in numerous CCC visioning activities, and has been a frequent author of CCC whitepapers and responses to requests for information (RFIs).
Dr. Hager has also been a significant contributor to the CRA Government Affairs Committee, including speaking at last fall’s Leadership in Science Policy Institute (LiSPI), and has recently been involved in the CRA-Industry working group on dual appointments.
“Greg’s long list of contributions to CRA over the years is a testament to his commitment to the community,” said Tracy Camp, CRA Executive Director and CEO. “Greg is deeply acquainted with CRA and our impact in the computing research community, and I look forward to continuing to partner with Greg in his new role as CISE AD.”
The Position
In his new role, Dr. Hager will lead the CISE Directorate, which “aims to help the U.S. uphold a position of world leadership in computing, communications, and information science and engineering.”
One of eight NSF directorates, the CISE directorate includes the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF), the Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS), and the Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS), as well as investments in advanced cyberinfrastructure through the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC).
The position has been held with distinction by Dr. Margaret Martonosi since February 2020. A former CRA Board Member and CRA-WP Co-chair, Martonosi is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Since December, Dr. Dilma Da Silva has been serving as the acting Assistant Director.
The search committee was chaired by Dr. Jim Kurose, Distinguished University Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Also a former CRA Board Member, Dr. Kurose held the Assistant Director position for CISE from January 2015 to September 2019.
Dr. Hager will assume his new position at NSF beginning June 3, 2024. CRA wishes him all the best as he transitions into this important position within the community, and we look forward to working closely with him and his staff to advance computing research.
