Our Leadership
Meet the Defense and Security Institute leadership team.
Interim Executive Director Stephen Lee
NC State has appointed Stephen Lee, Ph.D., as interim executive director of the university’s Defense and Security Institute. Lee, who earned a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Millsaps College and a Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from Emory University, has authored or co-authored more than 80 published research papers.
A prominent executive scientist with a long track record of proven leadership in the defense research space, Lee worked in scientific and science leadership roles at the Army Research Office and the Army Research Laboratory from 2001-2024. During that time, his work received several prestigious awards — including the Army’s Greatest Invention Award twice, in 2003 and 2005 — for which he was also nominated in 2004 and 2009.
