As Wichita State University’s division of Industry and Defense Programs (IDP)** continues to develop and grow to support industry-driven research initiatives, several organizational structure changes are being implemented to provide a strong foundation to drive these programs forward.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT*
Pierre Harter will serve as associate vice president of research operations and NIAR director of research and development. Harter has a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State and an M.B.A. with management emphasis from Newman University. He previously spent more than 20 years in the aviation industry, including as an executive director at Spirit AeroSystems. Harter will report to the senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs.
FINANCE & OPERATIONS*
Caleb Loss will serve as associate vice president of finance and operations. Loss has a B.A. and M.B.A from Wichita State and more than ten years of experience in operations, including previous positions as associate director of finance and operations for NIAR, contracts manager with WSU’s Office of Research and in supply chain management for Spirit AeroSystems. He will oversee the newly created IDP Research Office as well as finance, human resources and program and business management. Loss will report to the senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs.
IDP Research Office*
Karen Davis will lead the newly-created IDP Research Office. Davis has a B.S. from Friends University and M.B.A. from Tabor College and most recently administered the university’s pre-award Services in the Office of Research. Davis has most recently administered the university’s pre-award Services in the Office of Research. The IDP Research Office will manage all IDP proposals and contracts and grant/contract management. It will also provide expertise for awards specific to IDP. The Research Office team will consist of seven contract/grant managers, two grant administrators and one business technology analyst.
Finance*
Paul Werner, who recently announced his phased retirement, will move to a financial reporting role as NIAR senior director of financial reporting. NIAR is exceptionally grateful for Werner’s 30 years of dedicated service and congratulates him on his well-deserved phased retirement.
Lois Tatro joins the division as director of financial services and special projects. Tatro has been a valuable part of the university’s financial management team for 18 years. Tatro also recently announced a phased retirement from Wichita State in her role as senior associate vice president for Financial Operations. In her new role, she will be responsible for special finance projects and will continue to support the entire university by providing oversight of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds and facilities and administrative rate negotiation.
Leah Woolsoncroft will serve as a financial analyst. She will develop billing rates, analyze financial performance, establish new performance metrics/reports and support divisional reporting.
Human Resources
Marcie Holsteen currently leads and will continue to lead the IDP human resources (HR) team as HR director. Holsteen has a B.S. in Business/HR from Kansas State University, an M.B.A. from Wichita State and more than 17 years in the HR field. Holsteen previously served as director of talent acquisition/HR business partner for WSU’s main campus. Holsteen is joined by Mikayla Irish, a two-time Wichita State graduate with a B.A. and M.B.A. and four years of HR experience within Wichita State and industry.
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
Tracee Friess will continue to serve in a communication and marketing role as the associate vice president of strategic communications and marketing. Friess has a B.A. in communication from Wichita State and more than 17 years of experience in public relations, marketing and event planning. She previously served as director of communication and special programs for NIAR and the Office of Research and Technology Transfer. Friess reports to the senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs.
COMPLIANCE & SECURITY*
Tom Aldag recently announced his phased retirement, and during this transition time, he will serve in a director role as the facility security officer (FSO) and insider threat program officer. Aldag has worked in the aviation industry for more than 38 years, 14 of those at NIAR. We also congratulate him on his well-deserved phased retirement.
In the coming months, IDP will finish its search for an export control officer. This individual will also serve in a director role and will be responsible for export control oversight, including policy and procedure management, training and advice to promote the university’s ongoing compliance with export control laws.
An associate vice president of compliance and security position will be established, but will remain vacant at this time. During this period, the FSO and export control officer positions will report to the senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs.
ADDITIONAL CHANGES
Austin Nordyke recently joined the division as executive business administrator. Nordyke is a graduate of Wichita State’s Masters of Innovation Design program and has a B.S. in engineering technology management. He previously worked for the Molecular Diagnostics Lab. Nordyke reports to the senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs, managing programs and communication.
Lauren Smith will serve as the newest NIAR business manager working with ATLAS and select centers within Industry and Defense Programs. Smith comes to the division from the WSU Budget Office.
*Changes in these areas are effective June 14, 2021
**Wichita State University Industry and Defense Programs (IDP) includes Applied and Experiential Learning, Ennovar and the Cyber Security Forensics Research Group; FirePoint Innovations Center; GoCreate, A Koch Collaborative; Kansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center; National Institute for Aviation Research; National Institute for Research and Digital Transformation; Molecular Diagnostics Lab; Strategic Initiatives and the Training and Technology Team (T3). The division is led by Dr. John Tomblin, WSU Senior Vice President for IDP and NIAR Executive Director.
