Smalley Institute welcomes CONTACT leader Jack Agee

Smalley Institute welcomes CONTACT leader Jack Agee

BY JADE BOYD
Rice News staff

Physicist and electrical engineer Forest ”Jack” Agee has joined the team at Rice’s Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology as the first executive director of the Consortium for Nanomaterials for Aerospace Commerce and Technology (CONTACT), a new collaboration involving Rice and six Texas universities.

Agee

The consortium aims to develop and commercialize revolutionary nanomaterials for the defense aerospace industry. Agee, who served most recently as director of physics and electronics at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, brings extensive experience in both management and research and development, having worked in government, academia and industry.

Agee reports to Vice Provost of Research and Graduate Studies Jordan Konisky. He was selected to lead CONTACT by a process that considered the interests of all consortium partners.

”Each of our partners brings a rich diversity of programs that are needed to both generate the new technology and produce an educated and capable nanotechnology workforce for Texas,” Agee said.

One of CONTACT’s goals is to build a diversified program of nanoscience research and development that draws additional support from industry and from federal, state and local government.

Agee’s accomplishments include scientific work in cryogenics, electromagnetics, high-power microwaves, radiation effects and simulation, nuclear physics and bioelectrics. As an engineer, he has worked in field testing, electronics design and underwater acoustics. He holds patents in research for cancer treatment through bioelectrics, ultrawide band radiation and EMP simulation and testing.

A retired lieutenant colonel with the Army, Agee has directed high-power microwave research programs for both the Army and the Air Force, basic research in physics and electronics for the Air Force and the world’s largest flash X-ray radiation test facility. He is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Agee earned doctoral and master’s degrees in physics from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Clemson University. He is a graduate of the Senior Managers in Government course at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

”We’re delighted Jack is at Rice,” said Smalley Institute Director Wade Adams. ”His outstanding background in research and government will be invaluable as Rice and its CONTACT partners expand nanotechnology activities across the state.”