Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to share that retired Air Force Gen. Robin Rand will serve as the next president and chief executive officer of the University of Arizona Applied Research Corporation, or UA-ARC, effective January 1.

A decorated four-star general and respected leader in defense and aerospace strategy, Rand brings more than four decades of distinguished service and executive-level experience to the U of A. His military career included six overseas assignments and eight command tours, culminating in his leadership of Air Force Education and Training Command, as well Air Force Global Strike Command and Air Forces Strategic – Air under U.S. Strategic Command. In that role, he was responsible for two legs of the nation’s nuclear triad. 

He served as a command pilot with more than 5,100 flight hours, including 480 in combat, and holds degrees from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Naval War College.

Since retiring from the Air Force in 2018, Rand has continued to shape the national security and aerospace innovation landscape. He has held leadership and advisory roles in the nonprofit, academic and private sectors, including serving as CEO of the Gary Sinise Foundation and as executive director for the University of Oklahoma’s Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute. He serves on multiple boards that support veterans and defense research initiatives.

I would like to thank Austin Yamada for his vision and foundational leadership of UA-ARC, which has laid the groundwork for continued growth under Rand’s direction. Yamada will be retiring at the end of the year, and we are deeply grateful for his service and dedication. UA-ARC, a 501(c)(3) non-profit affiliated with the university, facilitates strategic partnerships with government, industry and academia to deliver mission-focused research in national security and defense.

Rand's leadership will help drive mission-aligned innovation for our National Security focus, one of three research initiatives to receive funding from the Arizona Board of Regents earlier this year. 

National security is being reshaped by rapid changes in the global geopolitical landscape. Our adversaries are investing heavily in new and re-purposed technologies, forcing the U.S. to innovate faster by integrating capabilities that span multiple scientific disciplines. The U of A is ready. 

As Rand himself has said, the state of Arizona is the crown jewel for national security, and related U of A expertise, facilities and location are unmatched. The university offers the nation the strongest combination of scientific research expertise in optical sciences and imaging, directed energy, autonomous sensing, hypersonics, materials science, AI and cybersecurity, space domain awareness and space systems engineering, among other important technology areas. As part of the National Security initiative, the university will drive cross-disciplinary research and development that connects science, engineering and policy to advance U.S. priorities. 

As the new president and CEO, Rand will lead UA-ARC in growing the university’s research footprint in national defense and increasing opportunities for faculty and students to contribute to national priorities. 

Rand’s experience, vision and integrity will be invaluable as we expand the university’s role in defense innovation, strengthen our contributions to federal research priorities and deliver on our land-grant mission.

Please join me in welcoming him to the U of A.

Sincerely,

Tomás Díaz de la Rubia
Senior Vice President for Research and Partnerships
The University of Arizona