Quantum computer maker opens government unit
By
Nick Wakeman
D-Wave, a pioneer in quantum computing, has established a government-only subsidiary.
One of the first companies to build a quantum computer has set up a government subsidiary to expand its work with the federal government.
D-Wave Systems has created D-Wave Government Inc. and has named several members to a board of directors.
While the government unit is new, D-Wave isn’t a stranger to the federal market. Lockheed Martin invested in the company in 2013, and in 2011 Lockheed opened a quantum computing lab at the University of Southern California that was built around D-Wave technology.
A Lockheed Martin spokeswoman confirmed that the two companies are still working together on verification and validation, machine learning and optimization.
René Copeland was named president of D-Wave Government Inc. He had been director of government sales.
Board members include Jeffrey Harris, board chair. He was president of special programs at Lockheed Martin. Other members include Delores Etter, former deputy under secretary of Defense for Science and Technology; Frances Fleisch, former executive director of the NSA; Donald Kerr, former principal deputy director for National Intelligence; Vern Brownell, CEO of D-Wave; V. Paul Lee, D-Wave board chair, and Don Listwin, director of D-Wave Systems.