APL promotes Van Wie to director
APL's next director Dave Van Wie. Courtesy of APL.
By
Ross Wilkers
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory's next leader will be the ninth in the nonprofit's 83-year history.
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has promoted its next director in Dave Van Wie, a 42-year APL veteran who currently leads the nonprofit organization’s air and missile defense sector.
Van Wie’s appointment takes effect on July 14 and he succeeds Ralph Semmel, who will step down after 15 years as director. APL said Friday that Van Wie will become the ninth director in its 83-year history.
APL employs approximately 8,800 people, of which 80% are technical professionals, that work with government agencies on solving complex research and engineering problems.
The organization has received $1.1 billion in unclassified prime contract obligations over the trailing 12 months. The Defense Department and NASA represent 72% and 24% of that spend respectively, according to USASpending.gov data.
In his most recent position, Van Wie led APL’s programs dedicated to advance technologies and systems for defending against air and missile threats. Prior to that, he oversaw programs focused on precision strike systems.
Van Wie has also published on hypersonic flight, high-temperature fluid dynamics, airbreathing propulsion and plasma aerodynamics.