Erik Andersen is the interim GTRI Deputy Director for Research, leading the Electronics, Optics, and Systems Directorate (EOSD). In this role, Erik manages operations for the Applied Systems Laboratory (ASL), the Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL), and the Electronic Systems Laboratory (ELSYS), and manages research portfolios that span GTRI. He also serves on the GTRI Executive Council, helping set GTRI’s strategy and informing critical decisions impacting our organization, and is the executive director for GTRI’s veteran’s employee resource group SERV@GTRI. Erik is also a principal research associate serving as the Army Strategy Programs Lead for EOSD.

Erik joined GTRI in 2021 as the first GTRI fellow through the Hiring Our Heroes program following a 37-year career in the United States Army serving on Active Duty, the United States Army Reserve, and the National Guard. From 2020-21, he served as the J3/Director, Domestic Operations for the Georgia National Guard. From 2019-20, Erik was the Exercise Chief for United States Army Europe, managing a program of 60 exercises across 19 countries with 29 allies and partner nations. He has deployed experience both abroad and domestically serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is qualified as a Strategic Planner, Joint Planner, Logistics Officer, Human Resource Officer, and Military Police Officer.

Erik holds a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in Carlyle, Pennsylvania, an MBA from the J. Mack Robinson School of Business at Georgia State University, and a bachelor’s degree in International Business from California State University at Chico.