The Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering is deepening its commitment to workforce development through its partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division by adding two adjunct lecturers to teach microelectronics.
Lloyd Massengill, CEO, and Jeffrey Kauppila, CTO, both of Reliable MicroSystems, a Tennessee company with facilities at WestGate@Crane Technology Park, will teach for the 2023-24 academic year. MicroSystems@WestGate Technology Park supports the Department of Defense ecosystem with digital engineering services, and is an active partner with the Luddy School on workforce development.
From 2003-13, as director of engineering for Vanderbilt University's Institute for Space and Defense Electronics, Massengill led research-and-development efforts supporting the U.S. Navy, and spear-headed design-modeling support for the Trident Mk6 program.
Prior to joining Reliable MicroSystems, Kauppila was a researcher at Vanderbilt’s Institute for Space and Defense Electronics. He is an expert in the area of radiation effects modeling and radiation hardened design for microelectronics.
They will join NSWC Crane scientist Austin Roach, who is a current Luddy adjunct professor in intelligent systems engineering and teaches a class, Reverse Engineering Embedded Systems. He has received the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Technical Agent of the Year award, among other honors.
Charles Colglazier is the liaison between NSWC Crane, Indiana University and the Luddy School. Colglazier, an IU and Kelley School of Business graduate, is a cybersecurity expert at NSWC Crane and south Indiana’s representative on the U.S. Department of Defense’s National Security Innovation Network. He helps facilitate collaboration on national security innovation projects.
Luddy School Dean Joanna Millunchick said the goal is to leverage the expertise of NSWC Crane personnel to teach students valuable skills, and meet the needs of the Crane workforce, and beyond. Classes would be offered at Crane’s WestGate@Crane Technology Park.
IU will launch microelectronic design and nanofabrication master’s degrees in the fall of 2024. The Luddy School is working with local industries to develop new undergraduate degrees to support developing technical areas. These efforts will support the student success, research and service pillars of IU 2030. That’s the strategic plan that will guide the university’s progress for the next seven years. The plan sets bold targets for IU’s national research impact and productivity, and calls for stronger alignment with industry sectors and focus areas that the state of Indiana has targeted for investment and growth through the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
The degree programs and expanded research areas also align with the CHIPS Act. The $280 billion bipartisan bill prioritizes investments in emerging technologies and innovations critical to America’s economic competitiveness, scientific and technology leadership, and national security.
Millunchick said the benefits of microelectronics and nanotechnology include helping to fight cancer, reduce energy consumption and detect the presence of pathogens in food.
“When an industry shows this much promise and exhibits such exponential growth,” she said, “the need for talented individuals focused on these technologies demands a multi-faceted response. Our graduates will help fill this need within Indiana and around the world.”
Indiana University and NSWC Crane previously announced an expansion of their partnership to leverage IU’s educational and research assets to support the nation’s strategic defensive initiatives and advance innovative solutions to national security challenges.
IU and NSWC Crane researchers have worked together since 2011 on projects of vital importance to the defense community, including artificial intelligence and secure microelectronics.