MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov

Contact: John G. Watson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 1999

JPL BENEFITS FROM PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERTISE

       A newly formed Commercial Advisory Council will advise NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, CA, on ways that JPL's research and technology development can be of maximum value to U.S. business and industry.

       The council includes aerospace and financial management business and technology leaders. Chaired by Dr. A.M. Zarem, JPL's Distinguished Visiting Executive in Science and Technology, the council is comprised of the following founding members:

• Robert M. Hanisee, managing director, Trust Company of the West;
• Dr. Robert Spinrad, former vice president, Technology Strategy, Xerox Corp. (retired);
• Richard E. Troop, founding partner, Troop, Steuber, Pasich, Reddick & Tobey, LLP;
• Dr. Edward F. Tuck, principal, Falcon Fund; General Partner, Kinship Partners II; and Director, TriQuint Semiconductors;
• Dr. Max T. Weiss, former vice president and general manager, Electronic Systems Division, Northrop Grumman Corp.

       "JPL seeks to find new ways to cooperate with industry in joint research and development, promoting entrepreneurship and new business growth," said JPL Technology and Applications Programs Director Michael Sander, to whom the council reports. "A key aspect of such an effort is to get the best, candid and constructive counsel from exceptional leaders in the private sector."

       "U.S. industry will ultimately be the key beneficiary of the council's advice," said Merle McKenzie, manager of JPL's Commercial Technology and Regional Development Program. "We expect new strategies for radically improved commercialization of JPL research and technology development to emerge from our work with the council."

       For further details about JPL's Commercial Technology Program, visit http://techtrans.jpl.nasa.gov/tu.html . JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA.

##### 7/97/99 JGW
#99-057