Secretary. Appointed Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in 2008.

As past President of the Georgia Institute of Technology, led the institution to a ranking as a top ten public university.

A civil engineer with a focus on geotechnical and earthquake engineering, served as dean of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, and as provost at the University of Washington.

Inducted into the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia, and recipient of numerous honors, including the 2008 NAE Bueche Award. Public service includes appointments as former University Vice Chairman of U.S. Council on Competitiveness; former member of President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology; and current member of National Science Board.