Dave van Wie

About Dave van Wie

As director of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), I lead the nation’s largest university affiliated research center, which performs research and development on behalf of the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, NASA, and other federal agencies. The Laboratory has more than staff members who are making critical contributions to a broad variety of nationally and globally significant technical and scientific challenges. My focus is on empowering teams to deliver transformative solutions in support of APL’s mission. From deep sea to deep space to cyber to biology, our world-class multidisciplinary teams work closely with U.S. Government sponsors and industry to integrate broad domain expertise to deliver proven, effective end-to-end solutions.Over my four-decade career at APL, I’ve worked to accelerate the nation’s ability to defend the homeland, deployed forces, and allies against air and missile threats. I have also worked to developed advanced capabilities for precision strike missions, focusing in such areas as advanced hypersonic systems, electromagnetic spectrum dominance, and novel long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. My technical background includes expertise in hypersonic flight, high-temperature fluid dynamics, airbreathing propulsion, and plasma aerodynamics. I’ve authored more than 140 technical publications and frequently contribute to the national conversation via lectures, advisory panels, and technical committees. Through these opportunities, I’ve played key roles in major studies investigating topics of national strategic importance, including hypersonic systems, autonomous systems, ballistic and cruise missile defenses, reusable boosters for space launch, virtual training technologies, and hybrid warfare.I also have the honor of serving as an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and as a fellow of the American Institute of the Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). I previously served as a member of the Defense Science Board, the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board within the National Academies – opportunities that have deepened my engagement with the broader defense and aerospace community.I’m passionate about fostering innovation and collaboration to meet the nation’s most complex technical challenges with integrity and purpose.

Experience

1. Director

   Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

   Jul 2025 — Present · Laurel, MD, US

   Lead the nation’s largest university affiliated research center, which performs research and development on behalf of the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, NASA, and other federal agencies. Oversee a world-class team of more than staff members with deep experience in solving some of the nation’s most complex national security and space challenges by bringing together experts and technology solutions across industry, government, and the technical research community.

Education

• University of Maryland

  Bachelor's degree

  1976 — 1980

• University of Maryland

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

  1982 — 1986

• The Johns Hopkins University

  Master's degree

  1995 — 1998

• University of Maryland

  Master's degree

  1980 — 1982