NIST Appoints Shyam Sunder as Associate Director for Laboratory Programs

USA: NIST Appoints Shyam Sunder as Associate Director for Laboratory Programs

Leadership Change Announced

A senior leadership appointment at the National Institute of Standards and Technology will take effect on June 1, 2025, when S. Shyam Sunder assumes the role of associate director for laboratory programs. The position oversees NIST’s network of laboratories that deliver measurement and research services essential to technology innovation across the United States.

Scope of the New Role

In his capacity as associate director, Sunder will provide strategic direction and operational oversight for the institute’s laboratory portfolio. The labs support industry‑partnered research, develop new standards, and help commercialize emerging technologies, thereby bolstering U.S. competitiveness in global markets.

Official Comment

“Shyam’s expertise and practical background, as well as his more than 30 years in leadership roles at NIST, make him an invaluable asset as we continue to push boundaries in critical and emerging technologies,” said Craig Burkhardt, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Acting NIST Director.

Prior Experience Within NIST

Sunder previously directed NIST’s Special Programs Office and served as acting director of the Standards Coordination Office, where he established the NIST Safety Commission and issued recommendations to improve safety culture. In response to the CHIPS for America Act, he led a cross‑laboratory effort that engaged more than 800 stakeholders and produced seven “grand challenges” aimed at advancing the U.S. semiconductor sector. He also spearheaded the creation of a competitively selected Standardization Center of Excellence to enhance U.S. participation in international standard‑setting for critical technologies.

Academic and Early Career Background

Before joining NIST in 1994, Sunder was a faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He holds a master’s and a doctorate of science from MIT and earned a bachelor of technology with distinction from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Recognition and Awards

Sunder’s contributions have been recognized with the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive and the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal, the agency’s highest honor, for his leadership in the federal investigation of the World Trade Center disaster following the September 11, 2001 attacks. He was also elected to the National Academy of Construction in 2012.

Implications for U.S. Innovation

The appointment underscores NIST’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s measurement science infrastructure, a foundation that supports emerging fields such as quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, and cybersecurity. By leveraging Sunder’s extensive experience, the institute aims to accelerate the development of standards that enable new technologies to move from research labs to commercial markets.

This report is based on information from NIST, licensed under Public Domain (U.S. Government Work). Source: Official U.S. Government release.