Indiana University is bolstering its work in artificial intelligence and furthering its partnership with the Department of Defense through the appointment of Mark Jenne as director of academic engagement.
Jenne will work with IN3 (Indiana Innovation Institute) to build awareness of, and access to, regional and national AI research institutes. He also will help provide a blueprint for bringing faculty and students to participate in artificial intelligence acceleration programs put forth by the Department of Defense through IN3, a nonprofit that works with academia, industry and government to create a hub of national security innovation to help solve critical defense priorities.
"We are excited to have Mark Jenne join us from Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane," said Raj Acharya, associate vice president for research and AI innovation in IU’s Office of the Vice President for Research. "With a Ph.D. degree from the Luddy School, he has extensive expertise in the area of artificial intelligence, which we’ll benefit from. We’ll also benefit from his experience at Crane utilizing AI techniques for defense applications. Mark will provide an invaluable link to further strengthen IU’s collaboration with IN3 and other key partners in developing research-based AI solutions."
Jenne’s work will involve helping further advance a collaborative ecosystem partnering with academic, commercial and industry partners to develop, design and implement AI capabilities.
"Mark brings a wealth of qualifications and expertise, and his work will be critical in efforts to extend our impact in the AI sector within the academic community," said Stephen E. Kelly, IN3's president and CEO. "This new position also builds upon and adds to our ongoing partnership with IU, which has been so impactful throughout the Uplands, the state and beyond."
IU's ongoing collaboration with IN3 has led to grants supporting work by IU Bloomington researchers in the Department of Informatics and Computing in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Intelligent Systems Engineering Program, also in the Luddy School.
Jenne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and software engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in computer science from IU. He has worked at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane as a senior scientist, working with a core group of scientists and engineers performing AI and machine learning research.
He will work closely with Acharya, who has developed the Indiana AI Collaboration Center, which facilitates collaboration among IU Bloomington, Crane, the Indiana National Guard's new Cyber Battalion, and Indiana industry on the development of practical AI applications in areas that include microelectronics, cybersecurity, supply chain integrity, and fraud prevention and detection.
