SHPE - Winter 2009 - (Page 46)

Inside the Circle: Employer Profile JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY D Jose R. Latimer, Ph.D. Business Area Executive for Homeland Protection “I want to continue to see my career engaged in programs that have to do with solving some of the critical problems this country has. I am enamored with the role of the Laboratory, which is one of a trusted agent in support of the government’s research, development, test and evaluation efforts.” r. Jose R. Latimer hasn’t lost any of his enthusiasm that made him want to accept a position at the Applied Physics Laboratory as an associate staff engineer in the early 1980s. Though he found the problems concerning the accuracy of navigation systems for submarines exciting then, he keeps seeing more interesting problems cross his desk now as current Business Area Executive for Homeland Protection. Tracking his career path at the Laboratory is an observation into how the Laboratory takes talent and “enables” it, as Jose likes to say. “They enabled me to continue to pursue my interests,” he comments. That included shifting from very analytical work to become involved in leading technical efforts developing clever signal processing methods for various advanced sensors. From there he went to project management, which led to overseeing several projects developing special sensor packages for the U.S. Navy. The experience quickly led to successful opportunities to engage in a group supervisory role. He then went on to become a branch supervisor and program area manager overseeing several groups and programs, which brought him to his present position. Along the way, he’s assumed greater and greater responsibilities. “I am responsible for executing the strategy and plans for engaging our sponsors, which are the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, in efforts to secure our homeland against terrorist type attacks of catastrophic consequences. I oversee all the programs and resources that are associated with the Laboratory’s support of these efforts,” he says. Jose thoroughly enjoys the applied research that has fascinated him over the years. “The beauty of it is being a not-forprofit organization and not having to develop and sell a product line,” he observes. He compares the kind of research he and his colleagues work on as “technology pull vs. technology push” and explains that pulling technology is when you identify an operational gap or problem and you develop a solution to this need by focusing the ongoing research and development. What he likes is solving problems whereas he says pushing technology is focused on “pushing out to the market new or better products.” His career demonstrates that “you don’t have to stay in the narrow field of your Ph.D., if you don’t want to. You can expand it.” From his perspective, “career development at the Laboratory is not a staircase nor are you locked into a position,” he says, noting that when his interests expanded into new areas he was able to pick up extra graduate courses, which the Laboratory paid for. The Laboratory has an outstanding program for those on a graduate degree track or those just going for additional courses in a particular subject. “There is a broad range of masters’ programs right here on location, as well as part-time study arrangements, so employees can shift their schedules around to attend classes. Ongoing education is highly encouraged,” he notes. Another aspect of Jose’s career with the Laboratory that he enjoys has been the “Lab’s commitment to its diversity.” Over the years he’s seen the benefits of these efforts resulting in an exciting and dynamic work environment that makes APL a great place to work. “Today’s young staff is not only taking over the leadership of activities like the Hispanic Awareness Club, which has brought an awareness of the breadth and significance of Hispanic contributions to our society, but they have also infused new ways of thinking and solving problems that have those of us ‘in management’ really thrilled.” he says. Jose still has plans for his career at the Applied Physics Laboratory. He wants to continue to grow and be engaged in relevant programs that will solve some of the critical problems of our country. Please see our ad on facing page. 46 SHPE ❘ Winter 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Winter 2009

SHPE - Winter 2009 Contents President's Letter Browser Calendar Professional Chapter Leaders - Providing the Right Resources at the Right Time Closing the Expectation Gap - Summit Addresses ‘Diploma to Nowhere’ Conference 2008 A Career Building Diversity in Engineering Education Graduate STEM Degrees Extend Technical Reach Programs & Services Inner Circle Employer Profile Regional Roundup Annual Report Advertisers Index

SHPE - Winter 2009

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