Andrew Puryear, Chief Technology Officer of Ultra Intelligence & Communications Strategic Business Unit has been appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce as the Chairman of the Emerging Technology Technical Advisory Committee (ETTAC).
The ETTAC has been established to advise the Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, and other agency officials on emerging technologies with potential dual-use applications (Military and Civil missions). This advice will include:
- The identification of dual-use technologies as early as possible in their developmental stages both within the United States and abroad;
- Assessing and providing information on emerging technologies, potential “chokepoint technologies” (for example, technologies that, if developed by an adversary prior to development by the United States, could present grave threats to United States national and/or economic security) and trends in technologies of particular interest to the U.S. government;
- Assessing the potential impact of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) on research activities, including technical and policy issues relating to controls under the EAR, revisions of the Commerce Control List, including proposed revisions of multilateral controls in which the United States participates, and the issuance of regulations; and
- Any other matters relating to actions designed to carry out the policy set forth in Section 3(2)(A) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 as well as the directives contained in Section 1758 of H.R. 5515, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.
The Committee's work is forward leaning—focusing both on the current state of emerging technologies and projecting their likely effects five to ten years in the future on national security, the U.S. defense industrial base, and the overall health and competitiveness of the U.S. economy.
The ETTAC consists of the nation’s top experts drawn from academia, industry, federal laboratories, and pertinent U.S. Government departments and agencies who are engaged in developing and producing cutting edge technology in areas key to maintaining a U.S. forward leaning presence in the world economy. ETTAC members are highly ranked, accomplished and recognized leaders, engineers, and scientists. Initial areas of technology focus include:
- Biotechnology
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technology
- Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology
- Microprocessor Technology
- Advanced Computing Technology
- Data Analytics Technology
- Quantum Information and Sensing Technology
- Logistics Technology
- Additive Manufacturing
- Robotics
- Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Hypersonics
- Advanced Materials
- Advanced Surveillance Technologies
Simon Pryce, Chief Executive of Ultra commented:
“I am delighted that Andrew has been asked to Chair the ETTAC, a key collaboration of top technology experts, to focus on emerging technologies and their potential impact for US national security, the US defence base and the overall health and competitiveness of the U.S., our core market.
We exist to innovate for a safer tomorrow, using our capability and technology to solve our customer’s most complex problems. This is reflected in Andrew’s appointment which will support Ultra’s understanding, and where appropriate, development of emerging technology to help our customers’ meet their future challenges rapidly in a cost-effective way. It is a great honour for him and for Ultra.”