Georgia Institute of Technology has named Michael “Mike” Gazarik as the new director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and a Georgia Tech senior vice president, effective February 16. 

A nationally respected aerospace and research leader, Gazarik has led large, complex research organizations across government, industry, and academia, shaping strategy, driving growth, and building institutions that deliver mission-critical innovation. With more than three decades of experience, his career reflects a deep ability to align technology with national priorities and guide organizations through periods of change and opportunity. 

A Georgia Tech alumnus, Gazarik currently serves as faculty director of the Engineering Management Program at the University of Colorado Boulder and as a part‑time staff member at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. He previously held senior leadership roles at NASA, including director of engineering at NASA Langley Research Center and inaugural associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). In industry, he spent eight years as vice president of engineering at Ball Aerospace, leading its strategic growth from an elite science contractor into a strategic national security asset that doubled in size.

“Mike Gazarik brings a rare combination of technical depth, executive leadership, and deep government experience,” said Tim Lieuwen, Georgia Tech’s executive vice president for Research. “He knows large research enterprises operate within the realities of policy and budget and has a proven ability to align technology with mission priorities while earning trust across stakeholders. We are excited to welcome Mike back to Georgia Tech to lead GTRI at a pivotal moment for research and innovation.”

GTRI employs more than 3,000 employees, conducting nearly $1 billion in annual research in areas such as autonomous systems, cybersecurity, electromagnetics, electronic warfare, modeling and simulation, sensors, systems engineering, and threat systems. GTRI’s renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, and policy to address challenges facing national security, industry, and society.

For nearly a century, GTRI has partnered with government and industry to deliver solutions to the most mission-critical challenges facing our nation,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. “We are proud to welcome Mike Gazarik to lead a crown jewel of our research enterprise and a crucial component of our nation’s science and technology fabric. His experience and leadership will strengthen GTRI’s ability to deliver on its mission and help make our nation safer, healthier, and more competitive.”

Gazarik is widely recognized for leading complex research enterprises with a focus on stability, strategic alignment, and mission impact. At NASA, he helped shape the agency’s science and technology enterprise during periods of fiscal constraint and technical risk, maintaining balance across broad mission areas and forming STMD to consolidate technology development. At Ball Aerospace, he guided significant growth and aligned strategy with evolving national security and civil space needs. His academic work has focused on preparing engineering leaders for mission-driven organizations — experience that aligns closely with GTRI’s role as a trusted partner to government and industry.

He earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech. Gazarik is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a former chair of AIAA’s Corporate Strategic Committee, and was elected to the AIAA Board of Trustees in 2025. His honors include NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal, the Silver Snoopy Award, the 2023 AIAA Rocky Mountain Section Educator of the Year, and recognition as Engineering Manager of the Year by the American Society of Engineering Management.

“GTRI has a remarkable legacy of delivering solutions that matter for the nation,” said Gazarik. “I’m honored to return to Georgia Tech and lead an organization that combines deep technical expertise with a mission-driven culture. My focus will be on listening, building on GTRI’s strengths, and ensuring we continue to advance research that makes a real difference for our partners and society.”

As director, Gazarik will lead GTRI’s multidisciplinary research enterprise, advancing its mission to deliver high‑impact science and technology solutions in support of national security, space systems, and critical societal needs.