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Homeland Security 5 Year Anniversary 2003 - 2008, One Team, One Mission Securing the Homeland

First Director Appointed to Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency

Release Date: 09/05/03 00:00:00

WASHINGTON, D.C.  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today that Dr. David Bolka has assumed the position of Director of the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) for the DHS Office of Science and Technology.  His appointment will play a critical role in moving forward revolutionary changes in technologies that promote homeland security, to advance those technologies which are critical, and to accelerate the prototyping and deployment of technologies that reduce homeland vulnerabilities.  HSARPA is the external research funding arm for the Department of Homeland Security.

Dave Bolka brings a wealth of experience from both a management and scientific perspective, said Dr. Charles McQueary, Under Secretary for Science and Technology.   I am confident that his unique combination of skills will help to build HSARPA and create a world-class scientific endeavor that will help protect our nation.  

Prior to joining the Department as the HSARPA Director, Bolka served in a number of senior scientific and technical management positions for Lucent Technologies that included Vice President, Special Projects; Vice President, Utility Solutions; Director First Office Applications and Radio Performance; and Product Director, Utility Billing where he made substantive contributions in the areas of utility management billing systems and wireless software system releases as well as hardware platforms.  He also served in such well known organizations at AT&T Bell Laboratories and the Naval Sea Systems Command as a Major Project Manager for Submarine Combat Systems.  Bolka served 26 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Captain in 1986.  

Bolka completed both undergraduate and post-graduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology earning degrees in Marine Geophysics.  He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Acoustics from Pennsylvania State University.  

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Science and Technology serves as the primary research and development arm of the Department, utilizing our nation's scientific and technological resources to provide federal, state and local officials with the technology and capabilities to protect the homeland.  

This page was last reviewed/modified on 09/05/03 00:00:00.