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DALLAS () – James Grimsley, a technology leader for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma with roots in entrepreneurism, industry and higher education, has been named the inaugural regional innovation officer (RIO) of the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub (TSTH). As RIO, Grimsley will provide the vision and strategy for the Tech Hub and manage the day-to-day operations.

One of 31 federally-funded Tech Hubs across the United States, the SMU-led and its 56 regional members are working to support innovation and workforce development in the booming semiconductor industry across North Texas and Oklahoma.

Grimsley will serve in his new position while continuing as executive director for advanced technology initiatives for Choctaw Nation, a TSTH consortium member. He is a nationally recognized expert on policy and technology related to advanced aviation and aerial mobility, including drones and autonomous systems.

“James Grimsley has been providing important leadership from day one as a member of the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub consortium,” said Elizabeth G. Loboa, SMU provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “Putting him at the helm of the Tech Hub’s day-to-day operations positions us to better support the needs of the semiconductor industry without losing any of the momentum we’ve generated since receiving federal designation in October 2023.”

Critical Technologies and National Security

The federal Tech Hub program supports regional efforts to scale up the production of critical technologies such as semiconductors, quantum computing, autonomous systems, biotechnology, clean energy, critical minerals, innovative materials and advanced manufacturing. Rebuilding U.S. dominance in the manufacture of semiconductors and related products is a national security issue, as semiconductor “chips” serve as the tiny brains behind many of our critical technologies, ranging from cell phones to automobile production.

“James will serve as the chief liaison for TSTH with the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which manages the Tech Hub program,” said Suku Nair, SMU vice provost for research and chief innovation officer. “This is a pivotal role, where he will support the collaboration of our members toward workforce development, technological advancement and entrepreneurship. He will bring true integration of the region, marshalling resources and support from State of Oklahoma, Choctaw Nation and State of Texas.”

TSTH is in a critical phase of its development, Grimsley said, adding that there’s no time to lose.

“The Texoma region is poised to be a significant national and global resource for semiconductor production,” Grimsley said. “The industry is moving quickly, and so are we. Right now, we need to make people aware of the job opportunities of the future – especially younger people,’

“These semiconductor jobs are coming together more quickly than people realize,” Grimsley said. “We’re building out a regional team of education, economic development and investment partners to address the needs of existing semiconductor companies like Global Wafers America and Texas Instruments as well as the entrepreneurs and companies of the future.”

Fablets and the Ladder of Success

At the heart of the TSTH plan is the construction and distribution of Fablets™, shared lab facilities with mobile components that would provide Texoma communities across all 29 participating counties with access to semiconductor education and workforce training resources – the kind of training previously available only to those with access to sophisticated, expensive “clean room” facilities. The Fablet™ concept also will help introduce more middle and high schoolers to semiconductor production as a lucrative career opportunity.

The TSTH plan calls for developing “stackable” educational pathways for students that would allow them to pursue incremental certificate training over time - an approach called "the ladder of success." University and college members of the consortium are working with industry members to develop curriculum and training programs.

Grimsley's Background

Grimsley has been leading technology initiatives for the Choctaw Nation (CN) of Oklahoma since 2019. CN is the third-largest Indian tribe in the United States, with over 225,000 tribal members and more than 12,000 associates. The nation’s reservation covers 10,864 square miles across 13 Oklahoma counties, and workforce development is a major tribal priority.

In his role with the tribe, he has been developing CN’s Emerging Aviation Technology Center – a hub for research, development testing and evaluation for crewed and uncrewed aerial system technologies. The TSTH vision includes the potential use of drones developed at the CN facility to connect various segments of the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain.

Grimsley is an Oklahoma Transportation Commissioner and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Commercial Drone Alliance. Grimsley is the former associate vice president for research at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, and was the founding director of the OU Center for Applied Research and Development (CARD).

He is the founder of successful technology company startups, having previously worked as a division chief engineer and later an assistant vice president with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Prior to SAIC, he served as civilian electronics engineer with the United States Air Force as a Manager of Unmanned Systems Research for the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute (OAI).

Grimsley is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

About SMU

SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and more than 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, communities and the world.