Dr. Craig Lawrence has been named interim ARLIS executive director, replacing Dr. William Regli. 

Dr. Regli stepped down from the role after serving for five years. 

"We want to express our appreciation to Dr. Regli, who led the transition at ARLIS to its new mission under the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security," said Dr. Gregory F. Ball, vice president for University of Maryland Research, and President Darryll J. Pines, University of Maryland president, in a joint Aug. 10 letter announcing the leadership change. "He created jobs for the university and the state of Maryland, with a 300 percent increase in staff during his tenure. He also led an increase in contract award to ARLIS from $3.5 million in 2018 to $188 million over the life of ARLIS."

As interim executive director, Dr. Lawrence will guide the strategic direction of ARLIS, identify new opportunities for growth and collaboration and facilitate ARLIS researchers' engagement with the broader campus community. 

Dr. Lawrence has served as a research scientist and mission area director at ARLIS since 2019. Prior to joining ARLIS, Dr. Lawrence was a program manager for the Strategic Technology office at DARPA, where he created and managed the Battle Management Command and Control portfolio and was responsible for five major programs valued at more than $180 million. Dr. Lawrence was awarded the DARPA Meritorious Public Service Medal for his service. Before his time at DARPA, Dr. Lawrence worked in the defense and intelligence industry, including as Technical Director in the Technology Solutions division (now Fast Labs) at BAE Systems. 

A formal search for a new executive director will launch in the fall.