Hon. Donald C. Fraser
DRS Technologies

Dr. Fraser has had a distinguished career managing the development of high technology enterprises, both in the private and public sectors. Currently, he is a member of three Corporate Boards. The largest is DRS Technologies, a NYSE listed defense company. During his tenure on the Board the company has grown from approximately $50 million in annual sales to over $3 Billion. Aurora Flight Sciences is a rapidly growing privately held company which designs and manufactures remotely piloted aircraft. The third company is a non profit, Center for Technology Commercialization, which facilitates the transfer and development of technology for government agencies such as Police/Fire, Justice, and Homeland Security.

Dr. Fraser was the Founder of the Photonics Center at Boston University and served as its Director for 12 years until his retirement in 2006. He created the Center to found and accelerate companies which exploit the technology of light. The founders and ideas could come from anywhere in the world. The Center provided for all initial needs of these companies, including space, laboratories and equipment, business and technical expertise, and access to investment capital. After completing construction of an $80 million laboratory building Dr. Fraser and his team helped found 18 companies which attracted a quarter billion dollars in investment capital.

Before joining Boston University Dr. Fraser served in the Bush administration as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. Appointed by President Bush in this Senate-confirmed position he was the number two acquisition official and was responsible for managing the acquisition process – setting policy and executing programs – for the entire Department of Defense. Dr. Fraser was responsible for an annual budget of approximately $100 billion, involving more than 12 million procurement actions annually, several hundred thousand people, and six Department of Defense agencies.

Prior to his government service Dr. Fraser spent almost 30 years at Draper Laboratory in positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. The Laboratory designed and developed the nation's most advanced guidance and control systems including the Trident and MX guidance systems, and the Apollo guidance, navigation, and control system. Early in his career at the laboratory he led the Apollo control system design team. Dr. Fraser also served for many years on the faculty of MIT, the institution from which he earned all his academic degrees.

Dr. Fraser is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering, an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society. He is a recipient of the Navy League Gold Medal for Technology, the NASA Public Service Medal and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award accorded to civilians by the Department of Defense. He is the Founder of AIAA's Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics and served as its Editor in Chief for 13 years. He is an active pilot, having logged approximately 4000 hours as pilot in command. He is a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight, which provides air transportation for needy patients.

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