Michael E. Kassner, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Research (Discovery & Invention)

Dr. Michael E. Kassner, who started at the Office of Naval Research in October 2009, came to ONR from the University of Southern California (USC), where he was a professor and chair of the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and professor of materials science.

The director of research is responsible to the chief of naval research for the overall integration of the discovery and invention (D&I) science and technology portfolio in support of naval needs.

Before USC, Kassner served in two high-level roles at Oregon State University as the Northwest Aluminum professor of mechanical engineering and director, graduate program in materials science. Kassner has also held positions at the University of California, San Diego; Naval Postgraduate School; Department of Energy; and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory which are all relevant to his new role at ONR.

Kassner is a Fellow of the ASM and Fellow of ASME, and a Fulbright Senior Scholar; and served as a member of the editorial board for the International Journal of Plasticity, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions, Materials Letters and the Journal of Metallurgy.

He has more than 37 years of experience in research and higher education. His more than 200 published works are recognized nationally by his peers. He holds a doctorate and master of science degree in materials science and engineering from Stanford University, and a bachelor´s degree in Science-Engineering from Northwestern University.