Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) actively engaged with key stakeholders and demonstrating its advanced research capabilities during the ongoing Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Global Force Symposium, held March 25-27, at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Leading GTRI’s participation at its booth is Padraic (Paddy) Heiliger, Field Office Manager at GTRI’s Huntsville Research Center. Heiliger, approaching three months in his role, is being joined by key players in GTRI’s military research efforts, including Erik Andersen (EOSD), Eric Grigorian (ASL), and Lee Simonetta (EOSD).

In an interview conducted before the symposium, Heiliger outlined his strategic approach and expectations for the event.

Heiliger explained that the symposium represents a critical platform for engaging directly with Army leadership and other Department of Defense (DoD) entities. "These conferences really allow us the opportunity to have a meaningful dialogue," he said. "Rather than just offering products, GTRI provides tailored solutions. We use these opportunities to understand firsthand the unique challenges facing our sponsors."

At this year's symposium, GTRI is focusing on conversations with key Army entities, including the Army Materiel Command (AMC). Heiliger indicated that AMC expressed particular interest in areas such as cybersecurity, digital transformation, supply chain resilience, regulatory compliance, and industry innovation trends. "AMC has sent us a range of questions about improving their business processes and delivering better services to the Army and DoD," he stated. "Our expertise aligns well with their needs, especially in cybersecurity and digital transformation."

Heiliger also anticipated interactions with other notable leaders such as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Army Research and Technology, and potentially Lieutenant General Collins, Military Deputy for ASA(ALT). He noted that travel restrictions had somewhat reduced attendance from outside the local region, but this presented an advantage for GTRI. "For us, the travel restrictions mean we'll primarily engage with local personnel from Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal, which aligns perfectly with our mission," Heiliger emphasized. "My plan involves actively seeking out local personnel at the symposium and initiating discussions on how we can support their missions."

When asked how he will "keep score" or measure success for GTRI's presence at AUSA, Heiliger pointed to the importance of fostering conversations and establishing relationships.

"The key metric for us is the number of meaningful discussions we have," he said. "It's crucial that we understand the specific needs and challenges faced by the Army so that we can determine how best to support them. The follow-up discussions after the event are also an important gauge of our success."

Heiliger only began at GTRI in January. He has not even reached his “90-day mark.”

Reflecting on his initial months leading the Huntsville office, Heiliger expressed admiration for the team at GTRI.

"The people at GTRI have been exceptional," he said. "The depth of their expertise and their collaborative spirit are incredibly impressive. They've helped me rapidly understand our capabilities and the potential we have to positively impact the Army’s missions. My role is to ensure they have the support and opportunities they need to succeed."

Writer: Christopher Weems

GTRI Communications
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Atlanta, Georgia

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry. GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.