Walter Copan

Walter Copan is an American chemist and government official who served as the under secretary of commerce for standards and technology from 2017 to 2021. Prior to assuming that role, he worked as president and CEO of IP Engineering Group Corporation and as a board member of Rocky Mountain Innovation Partners.

Walter Copan
Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology
In office
October 16, 2017 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byWillie E. May
Succeeded byLaurie E. Locascio
9th Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
In office
October 16, 2017 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byKent Rochford (acting)
Willie E. May
Succeeded byLaurie Locascio
Personal details
Born
Walter George Copan
EducationCase Western Reserve University (BA, PhD)
Scientific career
FieldsPhysical chemistry
Institutions
ThesisCarbon-13 and Nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of rhodopsin and bacteriorhodopsin (NMR) (1982)

Early life and education

Copan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from Western Reserve College in 1975 and a his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Case Western Reserve University in 1982.[1]

Career

Copan previously served as managing director of technology commercialization and partnerships at Brookhaven National Laboratory and as technology transfer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. During his time at Brookhaven, he led a pilot program across the United States Department of Energy called Agreements for Commercializing Technology. The program was praised for making intellectual property agreements between businesses and government more flexible and for promoting an entrepreneurial culture.[2] He led Clean Diesel Technologies onto NASDAQ while serving as CTO and executive vice president. Copan also had a 28-year career with Lubrizol, where he was active in research, development, and business unit management.[3][4] At Lubrizol, Copan led the company's European research and development during the late 1980s and early 1990s, including working with countries that had recently broken away from the Soviet Union.[5]

Under secretary of commerce for standards and technology

In September 2017, Copan was nominated by President Donald Trump to become under secretary of commerce for standards and technology.[6] Copan's nomination was supported by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.[7] He was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate in October 2017.

At that time, Copan said his top priority in the role would be to implement the Cybersecurity Framework, a National Institute of Standards and Technology effort to improve network security across federal agencies and industry.[2]

Post-government career

As a political appointee, he left office on January 20, 2021.[8] [9] In July 2021, Copan joined Colorado School of Mines as the Vice President of Research and Technology Transfer.[10] In 2022, Copan contributed to a letter to the United States Department of Justice signed by former federal officials of both parties that criticized the Biden administration's proposed policy changes for standard-essential patents.

References
  1. Copan, Walter George (1982). Carbon-13 and Nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of rhodopsin and bacteriorhodopsin (NMR) (Ph.D.). Case Western Reserve University. OCLC 8724955 – via ProQuest.
  2. Service, Robert (September 18, 2017). "Cybersecurity and technology transfer seen as top priorities for NIST director nominee". Science Magazine. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  3. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. September 12, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017 – via National Archives.
  4. Martin, Nichols (September 14, 2017). "Walter Copan Nominated NIST Director, Commerce Undersecretary for Standards & Tech". ExecutiveGov. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  5. Widener, Andrea (September 14, 2017). "Chemist nominated to lead the U.S. National Institute of Standards & Technology". Chemical & Engineering News. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  6. Berliner, Ben (September 13, 2017). "Walter Copan tapped to lead NIST". FCW. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  7. "UCAR statement on nomination of Walter Copan to head NIST". University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. September 15, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  8. "Walter Copan". NIST. November 22, 2017.
  9. "Draft Standard-Patent Policy Draws Former Officials' Opposition". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  10. "Home". Research and Technology Transfer. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
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