Join us for a seminar with OSU alumni Andy Smith, Director of Technology at Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), one of the world's largest privately owned defense companies renowned for its agility and technical innovation. With expertise in systems integration and modification, modular & open systems, data & sensor fusion, among many others, SNC stands at the forefront of defense technology. Andy will provide an overview of SNC and some of its key projects, setting the stage for a broader discussion on the current state of the defense industry. He will then discuss how the widespread global adoption of robotic systems is transforming traditional operational concepts, emphasizing the role of ubiquitous sensing provided by large volumes of low-cost systems. Drawing from his experience in the industry, time in the military, and his academic background from OSU's Robotics Program, Andy will share his insights into the evolving landscape of defense technology and offer a few lessons he has learned as an academic working in industry.
Andy Smith is the Director of Technology at Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), where he guides their AI/ML and autonomy/robotics portfolio. SNC is one of the world’s largest privately owned defense companies, focusing on modular open systems, data collection and aggregation, and sensor fusion. Andy joined SNC as a Systems Engineer III in 2018 after graduating with a PhD in Robotics from Oregon State University, where he contributed to distributed multi-agent coordination research. Prior to joining OSU, Andy received his BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he developed multiple autonomous UAVs while also serving as a member of the Nevada Army National Guard. Andy's wife is completing her medical residency, and they have two children, ages 7 and 8.