Marie Kane named assistant vice president for National Security Research at the University of Florida

David Norton, Vice President for Research

The University of Florida has appointed Marie Kane as assistant vice president for National Security Research, a newly created leadership role designed to advance UF’s strategic research initiatives in defense, intelligence and national security.

Kane brings more than 20 years of experience in national security research and program leadership, including extensive work with the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense. She joins UF from Sandia National Laboratories, where she most recently served as program deputy for stockpile sustainment and production in the Nuclear Deterrence Program Management Office. In that role, she oversaw a $600 million portfolio supporting the sustainment, surveillance and production of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.

“Marie Kane brings a rare combination of technical depth, strategic vision and leadership experience to this role,” said David Norton, UF’s vice president for research. “Her appointment reflects UF’s growing commitment to national security research and our ambition to be a leading partner in defense innovation.”

Her previous roles at Sandia included senior manager of advanced and exploratory systems, where she led multidisciplinary teams across California and New Mexico in hardware prototyping, testing and flight systems development for future Air Force weapon programs. She also managed Sandia’s Materials Chemistry and Remote Sensing departments, contributing to R&D efforts in quantum sensing, energy storage and high-security laboratory operations.

As assistant vice president, Kane will lead the development and operation of UF’s new national security research center in Jacksonville, which will be the major research component of the Florida Semiconductor Institute at the Jacksonville campus.

“We are thrilled to welcome Marie Kane to lead the Florida Semiconductor Institute’s national security focus in Jacksonville,” said Kurt Dudas, UF’s vice president for strategic initiatives.  “This will be a cornerstone of our campus — linking research, industry partnerships, and workforce training to power Florida’s innovation economy.”

Kane will coordinate defense-related research programs across the university, advise on institutional policy and compliance in high-security environments, and serve as UF’s liaison to federal agencies, defense industry partners and international collaborators. Her responsibilities also include identifying and promoting funding opportunities for UF faculty engaged in national security research.

Kane earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from UF in materials science and engineering and chemical engineering. She is an inventor on multiple U.S. patents related to battery and polymer technologies and has authored peer-reviewed publications on topics including lithium-air batteries, radiation effects on polymers, and polymer sensors. She has also completed executive education in national and international security at the Harvard Kennedy School and maintains active high-level security clearances.

“I am honored to be selected for this newly created role at my alma mater and grateful for the opportunity to help advance UF’s impact in national security research,” Kane said.