GTRI Director and Georgia Tech Senior Vice President Mike Gazarik has been appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to the Georgia Joint Defense Commission.

Dr. Gazarik’s appointment further strengthens GTRI's connection to the state's defense, aerospace, and national security enterprise.

The commission serves as a bridge between Georgia's military installations, defense industry, academic institutions, and state leaders, helping identify opportunities that enhance military readiness, encourage defense investment, and support long-term economic growth.

Dr. Gazarik's appointment represents another opportunity for GTRI to contribute to conversations shaping Georgia's defense future in alignment with GTRI’s missions to “enhance state of Georgia economic development” and “serve national security.”

The governor's announcement highlighted Dr. Gazarik's more than three decades of leadership spanning government, industry, and academia. Before joining GTRI in 2026, he held senior leadership positions at NASA, Ball Aerospace, and the University of Colorado Boulder. He also earned both his master's and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech and is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Dr. Gazarik's experience in aerospace, advanced technology, and national security closely mirrors many of GTRI's research strengths, including advanced sensing, autonomy, cyber, electronic warfare, aerospace systems, and other technologies that support the nation's defense mission. His service on the commission will provide another avenue for collaboration among government, academia, and industry while reinforcing GTRI's longstanding commitment to delivering research that serves the public good.

Also, another appointee has ties to the Institute. Trey Kilpatrick, senior vice president of external affairs for Georgia Power, was appointed to the Georgia Ports Authority. Kilpatrick serves on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board, helping strengthen partnerships between the Institute and Georgia's business community.

The appointments highlight the key role Georgia Tech leaders continue to play in supporting the state's economic competitiveness, technological leadership, and national security priorities.