Ken Schmidt is an experienced research and development (R&D) enabler, building bridges between the research bench and the marketplace. At the Toyota Research Institute, he managed the relationships and projects at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, and Stanford University. At Yahoo Labs, he was the Chief of Staff and Academic Relations Director, leading a team that built strong bonds between Yahoo and more than 30 universities. He supported the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Information Processing Techniques Office, which launched new Cognitive Systems programs and provided funding to several research universities. Ken’s earlier career at Western Electric, AT&T, and Bell Laboratories ranged from manufacturing R&D to product marketing, strategic planning, and R&D operations.

Ken received B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University as well as an M.B.A. from New York University. As a technology consultant, he provides technical and business development advice for government, business, and academic clients. Ken has seven U.S. patents approved or filed. He lives in Odenton, Maryland, and enjoys running, golf, photography, and all things digital.