The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is pleased to announce Padraic (Paddy) Heiliger as the new manager of the Huntsville Field Office.

This new role marks a strategic milestone as GTRI continues to expand its footprint and strengthen relationships in the Huntsville, Alabama area.

Several years ago, GTRI reorganized portions of the Electronic Systems Laboratory (ELSYS) with the Applied Systems Laboratory (ASL). Previously, ASL operated exclusively within GTRI’s Huntsville Research Center, focusing on missile defense and Army aviation. The reorganization expanded ASL’s sponsor base and technical expertise, incorporating competencies from ELSYS such as Air Force electronics integration, embedded training, human-centered engineering, and operationalizing collaborative autonomous systems. While ASL is now primarily headquartered in Atlanta, its strategic presence in Huntsville remains a key advantage.

Recognizing Huntsville’s importance as a hub for innovation and defense collaboration, GTRI leadership decided to elevate the field office’s role to align with those of other GTRI field offices. This shift required appointing a dedicated manager to oversee the Huntsville Field Office and report directly to the GTRI Deputy Director. The position ensures the office is a resource for all GTRI research labs and fosters relationships across the diverse Huntsville stakeholder community.

Heiliger will work alongside Huntsville leadership and team members to realize the evolving vision for the office.

"I’m delighted that Paddy accepted this challenge, joining our core Huntsville Field Office leadership team along with Morgan McBride and Mary Lynn Byrom," said Tommer Ender, Deputy Director for Research for the Electronics, Systems, and Optics Directorate (EOSD). "I know he will excel at seeing through this evolving vision. "

Paddy brings a wealth of experience to this role, having honorably served as a U.S. Army officer for 22 years. His distinguished career includes leadership positions within the Army Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors, the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and the Missile Defense Agency. Heiliger’s expertise in acquisition programs and his deep understanding of sponsor challenges will be invaluable as he works to expand GTRI’s partnerships and capabilities.

Paddy holds a Master of Business Administration with a focus on Systems Acquisition from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Q&A With Padraic (Paddy) Heiliger

Q: What inspired you to join GTRI as the Huntsville Field Office Manager, and what excites you most about this role?

The people inspired me to join GTRI. Everyone I met represented themselves, and GTRI, with the utmost character.  I could tell GTRI was a place where good people care about not only what they do, but each other.  Beyond the people, GTRI truly is a place of cutting-edge innovation. Where people seek to solve the hardest problems.  

Q: How do you envision leveraging your military background and experience in acquisition programs to benefit GTRI’s mission and its sponsors?

My background, both as an Infantry Officer and as an Acquisition Officer, provide the operational perspective combined with defense program management experience to understand the challenges faced by our warfighters and our sponsors.  I can relate to the problems our sponsors face managing requirements with available resources with the desire to find the right solution.   

Q: What opportunities do you see for GTRI to expand its presence and partnerships within the Huntsville community?

GTRI’s ability to take an idea, develop an innovative solution, and make it a reality can be applied across all organizations in Huntsville.  Our expertise in electronic warfare, model-based systems engineering, open system architecture, and systems integration are just a few of the many capabilities that our sponsors can add immediate value to their programs.  

Q: What are your short-term and long-term goals for the Huntsville Field Office, and how do you plan to achieve them?

My focus now is learning our people and ensuring me.  At the same time, my goal is to be an expert on everything GTRI does. Long-term, my goal is to ensure every organization at Redstone Arsenal knows GTRI as the center for innovation excellence.  I want GTRI to be their first choice in partnering to solve the most challenging problems.

GTRI is confident that Heiliger’s leadership will further enhance the Huntsville Field Office’s contributions to advancing research and development in critical areas of national importance.

Welcome to GTRI, Paddy!

Writer: Christopher Weems
GTRI Communications
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Atlanta, Georgia

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry. GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.