The former chief scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Rome, New York has been named the new associate dean of research for the Watson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

John Bay, who previously held the position of information directorate at the AFRL, was selected from a pool of candidates following an application process and review by a search committee comprised of Watson staff. The position became vacant after the acting associate dean, Weiyi Meng, left to return to his previous position as a professor in the computer science department to focus on teaching and personal research. Bay will assume the position on June 6.

Krishnaswami Srihari, the Watson dean, said Bay was chosen based on his experience in the field. He added that Bay’s credentials and knowledge will positively impact both Watson and the University as a whole.

“He’s got a really good background to help the Watson school and our campus enhance our research and scholarship footprint,” Srihari said.

Bay previously worked for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is an agency within the United States Department of Defense that helps with the development of technologies used by the military. He was also an associate professor of electrical engineering at Virginia Tech from 1989-1999, and he said that he is excited to return to a university setting.

“I had always wanted to go back into academia,” Bay said. “The Binghamton opportunity was a good match.”

According to Srihari, the search committee worked to widely advertise and informally contact those that it believed to be the best applicants.

“You’re trying to get a broadened pool from which you can choose the best and brightest,” he said.

Bay said that he is looking forward to the various tasks the job requires, including overseeing the work done by professors and graduate students in Watson. Additionally, he said that he is excited to help professors with their work, as his experience conducting his own academic research has enabled him to understand where difficulties can arise.

“I’ve always been more aligned with research than business,” Bay said. “Research is very diverse. It allows you to work with people and students.”

Bahgat Sammakia, the vice president for research in Watson, said he thinks Bay is a good fit for the job because of his past experience as well as his background working in both government and academia.

“I felt John is an outstanding candidate because of his very strong academic credentials, his experience in industry and government and his experience in working in industry and government as a liaison with many Universities,” Sammakia wrote in an email.

Even though his position will be in Watson, Srihari said that what Bay brings to the table will have a positive affect on the whole University.

“He will bring to, not just Watson but the campus as a whole, a tremendous wealth of experience and knowledge,” Srihari said. “He will have a very good impact on the spectrum of academia within our campus, students, faculty and staff.”