ROME, NY – February 12, 2025 – Griffiss Institute is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael Medley as Program Director of the Information Institute (II), a pivotal leadership role focused on advancing academic engagement with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate (AFRL/RI). With a distinguished career in defense research and higher education, Dr. Medley brings unparalleled expertise to this nationally significant program.
Dr. Medley has dedicated over 30 years to AFRL/RI, where he served as a Principal Research Engineer, leading groundbreaking advancements in wireless communications, adaptive signal processing, modeling and simulation, and next-generation networking—key technologies shaping the future of national security. His leadership in defense research has delivered over one hundred research publications and earned him over 70 AFRL Scientific Achievement Awards, multiple notable achievement recognitions, and a patent in advanced communications technologies.
Simultaneously, Dr. Medley has been a pillar of academic innovation as an Associate Professor at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, where he played a foundational role in establishing the Electrical and Computer Engineering program. Through his leadership and collaboration, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)–accredited program has become a vital pipeline for talent into the defense and technology sectors. His mentorship has guided countless students and researchers in cutting-edge disciplines such as secure communications, autonomous software-defined radio networking, airborne communications modeling and simulation, machine learning and dataset curation, waveform engineering, and wireless and intelligent next-generation systems.
As Program Director of the Information Institute, Dr. Medley will oversee faculty and student engagement programs such as the Visiting Faculty Research Program (VFRP) and Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP), ensuring the Information Institute remains the premier academic bridge to AFRL/RI’s world-class research ecosystem. His leadership will drive strategic growth, expand university partnerships, and foster breakthrough research collaborations in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum science, and advanced networking.
“We are honored to have Dr. Medley lead the Information Institute,” said Todd Humiston, Chief Talent Officer of Griffiss Institute. “His extraordinary career spanning military research, academia, and innovation leadership makes him uniquely suited to strengthen the connections between AFRL/RI and academic institutions across the country.”
Dr. Medley expressed his enthusiasm for joining Griffiss Institute in this role: “The Information Institute plays a critical role in connecting academia with the cutting-edge research happening at AFRL. I’m excited to build on its strong foundation, expand university partnerships, and create new opportunities for faculty and students to contribute to national security and technological innovation.”
As an Innovare Alliance member, SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a key academic partner in fostering research collaborations at Innovare Advancement Center. Dr. Andrew Russell, Provost at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, highlighted the significance of Dr. Medley’s appointment. “Dr. Medley has been an exceptional leader at SUNY Poly, and we are thrilled to see his expertise drive national-level research engagement at the Information Institute. His experience in both academia and defense research makes him an invaluable asset in advancing AFRL’s academic partnerships and shaping the future of innovation.”
Dr. Medley’s appointment underscores Griffiss Institute’s commitment to expanding research collaborations, developing elite technical talent, and accelerating innovation at Innovare Advancement Center, an open innovation campus dedicated to advancing the AFRL/RI mission.
For more information about Griffiss Institute and the Information Institute, visit www.griffissinstitute.org.
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About Griffiss Institute
The Griffiss Institute (GI) is a nonprofit talent and technology accelerator for the United States Department of Defense and an international network of academic, government and industry partners. Since 2002, the GI has served the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL), the Mohawk Valley region, and the United States, empowering diverse teams with talent and technology development programs that lead the nation in technical and economic impact. Devoted to converging teams and technologies to solve complex national challenges, the GI is proud to enable its international network from its home at Innovare Advancement Center in New York’s picturesque Mohawk Valley.
About SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly):
SUNY Poly is charting a path to become New York State’s and the nation’s premier public polytechnic. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees – via its four colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences – in engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including biology, game design, mathematics, and social sciences at its campus located in Utica. Established in 1966 as the Upper Division College at Herkimer/Rome/Utica, SUNY Poly today operates as an innovative academic leader and economic driver in the Mohawk Valley region and beyond. For more information, visit www.sunypoly.edu.