The Army Science Board (ASB) has appointed Michael Macedonia, assistant vice president for the Office of Research and Commercialization at the University of Central Florida, to serve an initial three-year term.

The ASB is a Federal Advisory Committee that advises and makes recommendations on matters of scientific and technological concern to the Secretary of the Army, Chief of Staff of the Army and other Army leaders who help advise the President.

As the university’s first appointment to the Army Science Board Macedonia will advise national security leaders on the future of research and development. The 40 members on the ASB represent the nation’s leading technologists and scholars.

The Central Florida Research Park adjoining UCF is home to the nation’s largest cluster of military training companies and houses simulation organizations for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Marines, Army and Coast Guard.

Macedonia, who has a Ph.D. in computer science from the Naval Postgraduate School and an undergraduate degree from West Point, will serve on the subcommittee for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.

Macedonia, a co-PI of UCF’s political science department’s Intelligence Community Center of Excellence, said is passionate about UCF’s role in solving the country’s biggest security challenges. Federal funding makes up a large share of UCF’s research funding, $74 million of a total $130.7 million in funding for FY15, said MJ Soileau, UCF’s vice president for the office of research & commercialization.

“This appointment is significant for the university and is an example of UCF’s enduring support for service to the nation and research,” Soileau said. “Dr. Macedonia is a scientist who specializes in disruptive technologies. We couldn’t ask for anyone more qualified to represent us on this board.”