Speaker Bio
Mr. Eric Makara is the Section Head of the Systems Integration & Instrumentation Section, within the Networks and Communication Systems Branch, of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, DC. In his position, Mr. Makara leads a team of researchers specializing in wireless communications systems and networks. He has led and contributed to projects in spectrum sharing, dynamic spectrum management, software defined radio, waveforms for air combat training, tactical wireless communications, 5G technologies, multifunction communications systems integration, and wireless network modeling and emulation.
Mr. Makara is the 5G/6G Technical Execution Area Lead for the DoD Microelectronics Commons program, supporting the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). In this role, Mr. Makara is responsible for technical oversight, management, and strategy of the 5G/6G technologies portfolio. The Microelectronics Commons is a national network of prototyping innovation hubs that are creating direct pathways to commercialization for US microelectronics from “lab to fab”. Microelectronics Commons supports six critical technology areas, including 5G/6G technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hardware, Commercial Leap-Ahead technologies, Electromagnetic Warfare (EW), Secure Edge / Internet of Things (IoT) Computing, and Quantum.
Dept. of Defense Microelectronics Commons Program & 5G/6G Technologies
This session details the Microelectronics Commons program within the US Dept. of Defense, which creates a direct pathway to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign microelectronics and safeguard the nation from supply chain risks. Funded by the CHIPS and Science Act, the Commons is a network of regional technology Hubs acting on a shared mission: to expand the nation’s global leadership in microelectronics. The program is accelerating domestic prototyping of dual-use technologies and growing a pipeline of U.S.-based semiconductor talent. The Commons comprises eight regional Hubs, each with a diverse member base spanning academia, commercial industry, and the defense industrial base. The program is focused on six critical technology areas, including 5G/6G technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hardware, Commercial Leap-Ahead technologies, Electromagnetic Warfare (EW), Secure Edge / Internet of Things (IoT) Computing, and Quantum. This session provides details of the Microelectronics Commons program, including the 5G/6G technology area, and discusses how interested parties can participate.