SUBJECT:	AVC for Government Research Relations and Director of
	Research Innovation Initiatives

I am pleased to announce that John Orcutt has been appointed to the position of Associate Vice Chancellor for Government Research Relations and Director of Research Innovation Initiatives, effective September 1, 2006. The appointment to this new position within the office of the Vice Chancellor for Research will strengthen our efforts to secure funding for our research priorities.

All leading research institutions face strong competition for the limited funds available from federal and state agencies. To enhance our competitiveness for these resources, Dr. Orcutt will work on major research initiatives, particularly interdisciplinary research collaborations, and Government Relations. The success of large-scale initiatives requires leadership by a distinguished member of the faculty who has excellent knowledge of state and federal funding agencies, strengths that Dr. Orcutt will bring to this new position.

Dr. Orcutt will manage Government Research Relations - both State and Federal. He will oversee an office that will: help identify, create, and secure funding opportunities to advance UC San Diego's research priorities; address state and federal regulatory issues that impact UC San Diego's research endeavor; and inform elected officials, agency representatives, congressional committees, and staff about UC San Diego priorities, challenges, and projects. In addition, AVC Orcutt will coordinate funding requests and private sector partnering for cross-campus research innovation and initiatives.

Dr. Orcutt has had a long affiliation with UCSD, beginning in 1973 as a Research Assistant at SIO. He completed his Ph.D. at UCSD in Earth sciences in 1976 and was appointed as Director of the Cecil H. & Ida M. Green Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics in 1984. Dr. Orcutt served as SIO Deputy Director for Research and Associate Vice Chancellor of Marine Sciences from 2002-2006. He continues his service as Director of the Center for Earth Observations and Applications (CEOA).

Professor Orcutt is a graduate of Annapolis (1966) and received his M.Sc. in physics as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Liverpool. He began his Naval career as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. He has published more than 160 scientific papers and received the Ewing Medal from the USN and the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in 1994. He was selected UCSD Alumnus of the Year in 1997. He is one of nine Secretary of the Navy/Chief of Naval Operations Oceanography Chairs and is presently the Past President of the 45,000-member American Geophysical Union (AGU). He is a scientific advisor to the Joint Ocean Commission and is a member of the Board of Governors of three ocean science not-for-profit organizations. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2002; the APS was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743.

I hope you will join me in congratulating John Orcutt on his new position.

Arthur B. Ellis Vice Chancellor for Research