SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, announced today that Kent Rochford will be the organization’s new CEO, taking over for Eugene Arthurs, who is set to retire June 2. Rochford has a strong technical background in the field of optics paired with a long career in organizational management and advocacy of scientific research. Rochford was associate director for laboratory programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He provided direction and operational guidance for NIST’s scientific and technical laboratory programs with 2800 staff and an $800M budget. In this role, he represented the full breadth of laboratory activity to domestic and international constituencies, collaborators, stakeholders, the U.S. Congress, and advisory boards. Rochford previously headed up NIST-Boulder Labs and the Communication Technology Laboratory in Colorado, utilizing measurement science to assist first-responder communications and spectrum-sharing and advanced communications technologies, as well as supporting the National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network. He has also served as chief of both the Quantum Electronics and Photonics, and Optoelectronics divisions at NIST, and as acting director of the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory. This work provided measurement R&D and standards support for the optoelectronics and photonics industry, spanning communications, lasers, sensors, quantum optics, and materials. Rochford holds a Ph.D. in optical sciences from the University of Arizona, a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Arizona State University, and an MBA from the University of Colorado. SPIE is an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology.