WRAL Tech Wire

Commerce Department promotes Hardin, 2 others

John Hardin

On The Web

• FCC

Site Search

Get the latest news alerts: Follow LTW at Twitter

Local Tech Wire

RALEIGH, N.C. — The state Department of Commerce has named John Hardin as executive director for the department’s Office of Science & Technology and promoted two other officials as well.

Secretary Keith Crisco said Wednesday that Karen West has been named the department’s general counsel, and Susan Fleetwood is now director of the department’s Business & Industry Development Division.

Hardin had been serving in an acting capacity.

He "brings both an academic and practical approach to the Office of Science & Technology," Crisco said. "His work on the state’s technology commercialization and green business funds, nanotechnology and innovation efforts and with the state’s Board of Science & Technology are really helping North Carolina move forward."

Hardin has been at Commerce since 2003, serving as deputy director and chief policy analyst for the Office of Science & Technology. As executive director, he conducts strategic planning and makes recommendations for technology-based economic development, implements technology-related economic development policy and resources, supervises the staff of the N.C. Board of Science and Technology, and directs grant programs that support technology development and commercialization.

From 1998 to 2003, he served as assistant vice president for research and sponsored programs in the UNC General Administration. He is an adjunct assistant professor in UNC-Chapel Hill’s Department of Public Policy, where he teaches courses on American politics, public policy and policy analysis. He holds a doctorate in Political Science from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Editor's Blog

The latest blog posts from our WRAL Tech Wire and WRAL editors. Read more articles…