John J. "Jack" Lesko, professor of engineering science and mechanics in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been named special assistant to the vice president for research for energy initiatives.

Lesko will have oversight responsibility for all energy-related research activities within the university's Research Division, announced Bob Walters, vice president for research.

"Jack brings a wide range of leadership and energy-related research skills and experience to this position," said Walters.

In July 2005, Lesko was named the first faculty administrative fellow in the Office of the Vice President for Research. The half-time position involved strategy development for research initiatives and development of policies and practices for university research activities.

One high-visibility activity was to coordinate the "Deans' Energy Task Force," formed to help implement the university's strategic plans for energy, materials, and environment, one of four broad areas of discovery that recognizes Virginia Tech's strengths and its ability to address societal needs. Lesko and Richard Hirsh, professor of history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and who was named a faculty fellow in July 2006, helped the task force carry out a survey of research, education, and outreach activities related to energy and provided support for forums that allowed the research community to share their activities across the university and with business and government people.

"I look forward to continued work with my colleagues and the commonwealth to advance the objectives of the strategic plan and grow our energy research and outreach," Lesko said. "We will build on the momentum of the last years Deans' Forums and position Virginia Tech as a leader in energy and environment research, and technology deployment."

Lesko said his goals are to connect the complementary disciplines "and work at those unique boundaries of energy research and policy, setting Virginia Tech apart from the rest of the crowd, while building on our existing strengths."

"I believe it will take a concerted effort in shared vision and leadership to deploy our strengths, as well as new investments and relationships, like those in Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, National Capital Region, and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, to build a region-wide network for exploring and deploying new energy technologies," Lesko said.

The new position reports directly to the vice president for research.

When he is wearing his faculty-member hat, Lesko teaches upper level courses and conducts research on the mechanics of polymers and composites, material interfaces, and composite structural design. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and his master's degree and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech is the most comprehensive university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is among the top research universities in the nation. Today, Virginia Tech's eight colleges are dedicated to quality, innovation, and results through teaching, research, and outreach activities. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg and other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 180 academic degree programs.

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