Schumer, Gillibrand To USAF: Pick New Director, And Soon, To Ensure New Director Advances Innovation At Rome Labs

Press Release

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the Secretary of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Ms. Deborah Lee James to select a new director for Rome Laboratory in Central New York who will maintain the same innovative and forward-thinking leadership as the facility's former director, Mr. George Duchak. In a letter to Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, Schumer and Gillibrand noted Rome Labs' essential work in serving as a research and development, communications and strategic planning facility for USAF personnel in Oneida County. Under Duchak's leadership, Rome Labs established itself as a leader in the military community in gathering cyber intelligence and providing good-paying, high-tech jobs in Central New York. The letter urges the USAF to quickly select someone who will maintain Rome Lab's reputation as a premier research facility.

"Under Mr. Duchak's leadership, Rome Labs has become a leader in countering cyber threats and generating economic growth in Central New York. While Rome Labs will miss his leadership, a new director must be named, and soon, to ensure there are no lapses in leading the facility's operations," said Senator Schumer. "That's why we are urging Secretary James to appoint a new director who will continue to maintain Rome Laboratory's excellence as a leading research and communications facility and an economic anchor in Oneida County. Rome Laboratory deserves another strong leader who will chart a course for continued innovation and growth."

"Rome Lab is at the forefront of U.S. national security research and a critical part of the community," said Senator Gillibrand. "I am hopeful that the Air Force is focused on finding a leader who will ensure that the Lab continues to thrive."

Rome Labs, the Information Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, is a national leader in communications and cyber technology in the heart of the Mohawk Valley, located in Oneida County. One of its primary focuses is gathering and processing cyber intelligence. In addition, the facility is a source of growth for the regional economy. According to the USAF, it is estimated that Rome Labs generates over $290 million in economic growth in Central New York, including over 2,400 direct and 1,300 indirect jobs supported.

Schumer and Gillibrand explained that George Duchak, the former director of Rome Labs, has been selected to lead the Department of Defense's new technology office in Silicon Valley and, as a result, the Senators said the lab needs a new director who will advance the forward-thinking, enterprising approach that will continue to move the lab forward as a world-class research facility and information technology center of excellence. Schumer and Gillibrand said the previous director successfully led Rome Labs' research and development activities in cybersecurity, information processing and advanced computing for roughly two years. Duchak's innovative leadership helped Rome Labs partner with small businesses throughout the region to maintain the country's cybersecurity defenses against domestic and foreign threats.

The Senators say the same kind of leadership is needed to continue the successes that led to the creation of an ecosystem in Rome for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) and Cyber, which created $1.1 billion in revenue during 2014 alone. Therefore, Schumer and Gillibrand urged the USAF to select a new director to fill the position as soon as possible, and one that shares a similar vision of advancing Rome Labs' presence in the industry as well as its importance in the Central NY economy. The Senators said, given the immense responsibilities of Rome Labs, specifically in leading the USAF's cybersecurity efforts, a new director needs to be selected soon to ensure a both smooth transition and one that will allow the facility to continue to expand upon its day-to-day operations.

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