Dr. George Arnold to Take on New Role as Director of the Standards Coordination Office

Dear Colleagues,

I am excited to share this news with you. NIST Director Pat Gallagher has asked me to take on a new role as Director of the Standards Coordination Office. I will lead NIST’s overall engagement with the documentary standards and conformity assessment communities and work closely with and advise the NIST Senior Leadership Team on strategic standards and conformity assessment initiatives and policies. My line management responsibilities will also include the NIST Standards Services Program, the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program, and the NIST Quality Management System. My new appointment will be effective in mid-March, subject to approval by the Department of Commerce.

To reinforce NIST’s commitment to the success of the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) and continued engagement and support, I will continue to serve as NIST’s senior representative to the SGIP and continue to be NIST’s representative on the SGIP Board of Directors.

Until my successor is named, Dave Wollman will assume my responsibilities directing NIST’s smart grid program on an acting basis. A vacancy announcement for my current position will be issued in the near future and we will select the best possible candidate on a competitive basis.

I feel very good about all that has been accomplished in the Smart Grid program over the last four years through collaboration with hundreds of private and public sector colleagues, and I look forward to continuing these relationships.  I also look forward to being able to leverage the knowledge and experience gained to additional issues of critical national need in which standards enable innovation, economic growth and improved quality of life.

George W. Arnold