Gary Bachula to Leave Commerce

Commerce Secretary William Daley announced this week that Gary Bachula, Deputy Under Secretary for Technology, will be leaving his post April 7 to move to the private sector. Throughout Bachula’s tenure with the Clinton Administration, he has served as a the leading advocate for efforts to build stronger partnerships between federal R&D agencies and state technology programs. His willingness and commitment to explore new approaches to state-federal partnerships was demonstrated through the creation of the U.S. Innovation Partnership, the development of the pilot Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCoT), and his support of the State Science and Technology Institute.

In addition, on behalf of the White House, Bachula chaired the Federal government's interagency partnership with the automobile industry to develop high mileage advanced technology vehicles. The Administration's "Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles" (PNGV) recently met an important milestone with the roll-out by Ford, GM, and DaimlerChrysler of three proof-of-concept cars that achieve more than 70 miles per gallon.

Bachula also served as Vice Chair of the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Technology, a member of the Interagency GPS Executive Board, Co-Chair of the Executive Committee of the U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Commission, as well as a number of other international technology partnerships.

Gary Bachula joined the Commerce Department's Technology Administration in August 1993 as Deputy to then Under Secretary Mary L. Good. Upon Dr. Good's departure in June 1997, Daley appointed Bachula Acting Under Secretary, a role he filled through October 1999. Dr. Cheryl Shavers is the Administration’s current Under Secretary for Technology.

Mr. Bachula was one of the originators of the State Science and Technology Institute. SSTI appreciates his dedication to improving state-federal relations and his guidance to SSTI since its inception.