Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation names vice president for cyber, IT research
Paige Atkins, a cyber and information technology executive with significant government and industry experience, has been named vice president for the cyber and information technology research at the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation in Arlington, Va.
Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation was established during early 2011 to foster applied research, development, and management of large-scale research projects. The corporation will expand several of the university’s areas of expertise to applied research and development, namely national security, energy, and health. Atkins will oversee the management, growth, and business development of the cyber security and information technology sector of the company.
"With more than 27 years of government and industry experience, Ms. Atkins is widely recognized for her leadership in delivering technology solutions that enable government transformation and critical operations," said Thomas M McNamara Jr., Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation chief executive officer. "She led the vision, strategy, and alignment of complex cross-functional efforts across industry and government activities. Her leadership roles have spanned multiple technical, government and industry activities, which have positioned her well to tackle the complex challenges in cyber and [information technology]."
Atkins is joining the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Atkins joined DISA in 2006 where she initially served as director of the Defense Spectrum Organization. In that role, she provided executive leadership to Department of Defense’s center of excellence for electromagnetic spectrum engineering and management, policy development, information systems, modeling and simulation, and operations support. In her most recent position at DISA, Atkins served as director for Strategic Planning and Information, ensuring interoperable command and control capabilities, as well as a global enterprise infrastructure in direct support to the president, secretary of defense, joint chiefs of staff, combatant commanders, and Department of Defense.
Atkins has been hand selected to support multiple Defense and Air Force Scientific Advisory Boards. She holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech. In 1989, she earned a Master of Science in engineering administration from George Washington University.
Atkins will start at the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation on Oct. 3. She can be reached at 571-858-3108.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
