New VP for government, business relations aims high, wants to tell world about DRI's skyscraper-sized talent

As far as he's concerned, there's a skyscraper of talent at Desert Research Institute, and Dr. Scott Hauger, new vice president for government and business relations, wants Nevada and the world to hear about it.

The building blocks for a great scientific research institute have stacked up nicely for DRI, and now it's time to make the institute a household name worldwide. And that's just what Hauger hopes to do. "I get satisfaction out of institute building," he says. "I have worked in the academic research world and the business world, and DRI is a fascinating model of both."

Hauger's skills include a unique combination of experience: within the high-tech industry he founded and built his own innovative technology assessment and development firm, taking it from a business idea and $3,000 to $1.5 million in revenues. Blend that with academic experience where he was a faculty member and administrator at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. And don't forget his latest position as director of the Science and Engineering Policy and Practice Group for the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Hauger became familiar with DRI when he led two different AAAS evaluation teams at DRI that assessed its research activities, determined its effectiveness in competing for research funding and evaluated its current research infrastructure.

Hauger holds a doctorate in science and technology studies, a master's in history, another in American studies and a third in chemistry. He also has a bachelor's degree in chemistry.

DRI intends to put all Hauger's talents to good use with a vast array of responsibilities, including oversight of DRI's federal and state governmental affairs, oversight of DRI's role within the joint UNR-DRI Technology Transfer Office, business development at the state, national and international levels and serving as the senior administrative executive of DRI's southern Nevada campus. Southern Nevada will see Hauger's face pop up in numerous places, as he introduces-and in some cases re-introduces-the business and research communities to DRI's offerings.

Hauger is very aware of the talent and expertise resident within DRI's walls and looks forward to working for and with the staff internally as well. "I'm at the service of the faculty. The whole point is to further their goals and meet the needs of the institute as a whole," Hauger says. "I believe it is a privilege to be working with these people."

Admittedly, the most different and challenging part of the job is returning to working within a state government agency. He looks forward, however, to embracing the institute and getting to know the people and the programs because institutional development is what drives him.

So, business communities north and south in Nevada and around the country shouldn't be surprised if they see more and more of Hauger everywhere they turn. And, the message he brings is loud and clear: "Things at DRI are looking up."

-Heather Emmons