Assistant Vice President for Technology Commercialization and Director of the Office for Technology Licensing appointment

Dr. David Norton, Vice President for Research

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jim O’Connell as Assistant Vice President for Technology Commercialization and Director of the Office for Technology Licensing at the University of Florida effective April 10. He will assume the responsibilities current held by David Day who will be retiring this year. Mr. O’Connell will oversee the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) program and be responsible for the Sid Martin Biosciences Institute and for the Florida Innovation Hub. OTL exploits technologies arising from the discoveries of UF faculty/staff in order to enhance the university’s educational and research missions and for the public good. Mr. O’Connell will work with internal and external constituents to provide strategic leadership and direction in building and capitalizing on facilities, expertise, and technology at the University of Florida. This position reports to the Vice President for Research.

Since June 2013, Mr. O’Connell has been Director of the Office of Technology Transfer at the University of Miami and prior to that spent over 5 years at the University of Michigan as Director of the Michigan Venture Center. Mr. O’Connell also previously served in the United States Air Force as Chief Evaluator Helicopter Pilot at Andrews Air Force Base. Mr. O’Connell obtained his M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Maryland and his B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic.

Please join me in welcoming Mr. Jim O’Connell to this position here at the University of Florida.