Columbia Entrepreneurship

The Global Peter Drucker Challenge - Deadline for Submissions
2016-07-15
DEADLINE – July 15, 2016
Students and young professionals: Compete and win a trip to Vienna! Share your ideas on the 2016 guiding topic: The New Entrepreneurs: Movers and Shakers in Economy and Society?
See Here For Details
The Global Peter Drucker Challenge is a contest for students and professionals from the ages of 18 to 35. Organized by the Peter Drucker Society Europe, the contest aims at raising awareness of the works and humanistic values of Peter Drucker among young people – the new generation poised to build on a management philosophy that puts the human being at its center.
In 2016 we invite you to submit an essay covering the topic “The New Entrepreneurs – Movers and Shakers in Economy and Society?”

Using Artificial Intelligence to Identify State Secrets
2016-07-20 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Columbia Startup Lab, 69 Charlton St. @ Varick, NYC, 10014, United States
Whether official secrecy is random or predictable is a matter of great public controversy. But the question has not been explored using Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning methods.
Join Columbia University History Professor Matt Connelly for a discussion about using data science to compare political narratives with the real historical record.
Admission is Free
Register Today
This event is co-hosted by Text.IQ
Artificial Intelligence to Identify State Secrets
Abstract:
Whether official secrecy is random or predictable is a matter of great public controversy. But the question has not been explored using Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning methods. We report the results of an experiment with nearly one million State Department cables from the 1970s to identify diplomatic communications that were originally classified as containing sensitive national security information. In analyzing the data, we found that cables classified as secret were disproportionately likely to have been lost or corrupted. But even with incomplete data, we were able to train algorithms to identify 90% of classified cables with <11% of false positives.
Matthew Connelly is a professor of international and global history at Columbia. He is also the principal investigator of History Lab, a project to apply data science to the problem of preserving the public record and accelerating its release. He received his B.A. from Columbia and his Ph.D. from Yale. His publications include “A Diplomatic Revolution: Algeria’s Fight for Independence and the Origins of the Post-Cold War Era”, which won five prizes, and Fatal Misconception: The Struggle to Control World Population, an Economist and Financial Times book of the year. He has provided commentary on international affairs for The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Le Monde, and has hosted radio documentaries for BBC Radio.

Suspend Your Student Loan Payments While You Grow Your Venture
2016-07-21 11:30 - 12:30 | Columbia Startup Lab, 69 Charlton St. @ Varick, NYC, 10014, United States
Lunch & Learn with SoFi’s Entrepreneurship Program
Join Amanda Wood (CBS ’14), Director at SoFi, on Thursday 7/21 at 11:30 am ET for a lunch and learn session to learn more about SoFi’s story, student loan refinancing options, and how SoFi’s Entrepreneur Program can help you build your business.
About SoFi’s Entrepreneur Program:
The SoFi Entrepreneur Program (EP) was created to help founders build businesses under the burden of student loan debt. Program benefits include 6-12 months of deferment on student loan payments, mentorship, workshops, and access to investors. SoFi’s EP has already helped 60+ entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs with student loans are encouraged to apply at sofi.com/EP. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
About SoFi:
SoFi is the country’s largest provider of student loan refinancing. Since starting in 2011 at Stanford GSB, they’ve funded $10B+ in loans to 150,000+ members.
About SoFi Student Loan Refinancing:
If you have student loans, SoFi may be able to save you thousands. SoFi refinances federal and/or private student loans at low rates. The average borrower saves $19K over the life of their loan by refinancing. Get a $200 welcome bonus when you refinance through sofi.com/schoolsave.

Transitioning to CEO: How Start-ups by Women in Life Sciences Succeed
2016-07-27 18:00 - 20:30 | Cooley LLP, 1114 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY, 10036, United States
CBSAC/NY and Columbia Tech Ventures are proud to present an evening discussion with several top women scientists & inventors who have started successful companies in life sciences.
Hear the stories of how these speakers have joined the small but growing ranks of women scientists who have become academics-turned-entrepreneurs:
• Piraye Yurttas Beim – Founder & CEO of Celmatix
• Laura Philips – CEO & Founder of Spheryx
• Misti Ushio – CEO and Founder of Tara Biosystems
• Loren A. Busby – Managing Member of Cresco Adivsors, LLC
This program should be of interest to any who would like to learn more about starting and managing young life sciences companies.
Register here: http://www.cbsacny.org/article.html?aid=1661

Columbia Venture Competition Silicon Alley: Happy Hour + Networking Event
2016-08-09 18:30 - 20:30 | Tavern29, 47 E 29th St, New York City, NY, 10016, United States
Mark your calendars and spread the word among Columbia alumni and friends in the New York City area!!
Every second Tuesday of the month the Columbia Venture Community will be meeting for drinks and networking at Tavern29 in NoMad.
With Spring just around the corner, Tavern29’s rooftop bar will be the perfect spot to meet-up, however, if you have a favorite bar or restaurant and want to propose a venue for our next happy hour, shoot your suggestion to dawnquaker@gmail.com.
Also, if you’re interested in hosting or co-organizing a future event, please fill out this form and someone will get back to you shortly! http://goo.gl/forms/dAo8ZxWiaH

ELabNYC Info Session, Medical Center
2016-09-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Columbia University Medical Center, Health Sciences Library, LL205, New York, United States
Calling All Bioentrepreneurs! Thinking of starting your own bio or health tech company? Entrepreneurship Lab NYC (ELabNYC) is looking for interested research scientists, doctors and engineers for upcoming 2017 cohort. Postdocs, graduate students, PIs, and MDs are all eligible. Learn more at one of the upcoming information sessions and chat with previous ELabNYC start-up participants.

ELabNYC Info Session, Morningside Campus
2016-09-14 16:00 - 17:00 | Columbia University, Lerner Hall, Room 569, New York, United States

An Inside Look Into Growth Equity Webinar
2016-09-14 18:00 - 19:00
An Inside Look At Growth Equity Webinar
Wednesday, September 14
6:00-7:00 pm EST
Webinar Dial-in Details: 646-494-8808 www.uberconference.com/courtneygoldman
RSVP: Please RSVP to Courtney Goldman (courtney@stripesgroup.com) with the subject “RSVP-Stripes Group Webinar”.
Stripes Group, a leading growth equity firm based out of downtown New York that makes $10-100M investments in Technology and Consumer Product Businesses is hosting a webinar on September 14 for undergrads interested in careers in tech and consumer investing, specifically juniors (Class of 2018) who would want to join them this summer for their internship program. Through the webinar, students will learn what growth equity investing is and will get a sense of what it is like to be a full-time analyst at Stripes.

Third Thursday: Entrepreneurship Forum
2016-09-15 17:30 - 20:00 | Schapiro Building Room 750, 530 West 120th Street, New York City, 10027, United States
Featuring Georg Petschnigg ‘00, CEO & Founder at FiftyThree
Ideation and Team Building
Schapiro Center for Engineering and Physical Science Research
530 West 120th Street Room 750
September 15, 2016 5:30 pm
Register Now
Third Thursdays is a recurring open forum and networking and info session for the Columbia University entrepreneurship community. It provides students, faculty, staff, and alumni the opportunity to hear ideas from across campus, form teams, and explore career options. You’ll hear from Columbia alumni and other experts on their experiences working in the field, how they’ve applied their Columbia experience in their careers, and more.
Join us!
Food & Drink will be served!

Financing Your Startup: All Money is Not Equal
2016-09-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Morningside Campus, TBD
Securing financing is a significant challenge for any startup, but an understanding of the path to financing and common pitfalls you may encounter along the way will pay off in the long term. In this info session with Stephen Davis of Goodwin Procter LLP, we will cover:

Pros and cons of different financing models for small business and startups, including SBIRs, STTRs, angel, seed, and VC A rounds;
The ways the negotiations will typically unfold;
The role of the lead investor;
The timeline for financing discussions;
The most common points of failure along the way.

Register below. Lunch will be served!

Steve Davis, a partner in the firm’s Business Law Department, is a member of the Technology Companies Group and the Life Sciences, Capital Markets, and Clean Tech Practices. He has extensive experience in several areas of corporate practice with a focus on venture capital, corporate finance and securities, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate counseling. Mr. Davis is a key contributor to the Goodwin Procter Founders Workbench, an online resource for start-ups, emerging companies and the entrepreneurial community. Mr. Davis also serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School in Start-Up Law and is a Lecturer in Venture at the Columbia Business School. Mr. Davis joined Goodwin Procter in 2008.

Introduction to Design Thinking Workshop
2016-09-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio, 490 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10027, United States
From a newsreader app, to a lowcost infant warmer for developing countries, to simply a more creative team dynamic, design thinking has proven to be a powerful methodology capable of solving challenges of all shapes and sizes. The principles of user research, prototyping, and testing have been used by everyone from product designers, entrepreneurs, humanitarians, among many others, to create innovative, human-centered designed products and solutions.
Please join us for this hands on introduction to design thinking. We will focus on needfinding, problem framing, rapid idea generation, and collaboration. The session is fast paced and equally valuable for individuals or teams.

The Politics of Innovation: Why Are Some Countries Better than Others at Science and Technology?
2016-09-20 12:15 - 14:00 | SIPA Building Room 1512, New York
The SIPA Urban and Social Policy Program, SIPA Entrepreneurship Initiative with support from the Nasdaq Educational Foundation, the SIPA United States Regional Specialization, and the Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies, present:
“The Politics of Innovation: Why Are Some Countries Better than Others at Science and Technology?”
Dr. Mark Zachary Taylor
Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
Georgia Institute of Technology
Author, The Politics of Innovation: Why Some Countries are Better than Others at Science and Technology (Oxford Univ. Press, 2016)
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
1512 International and Public Affairs
12:15 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
advance registration suggested by emailing jrb2243@columbia.edu
Introduction by Merit Janow, Dean, School of International and Public Affairs, Professor of Practice, International Economic Law & International Affairs
Moderated by Esther Fuchs
Professor of International and Public Affairs;
Director, Urban and Social Policy Concentration;
Director, United States Regional Specialization
Dr. Mark Zachary Taylor, formerly a solid-state physicist, now specializes in international relations, political economy, and comparative politics. In his new book, The Politics of Innovation (Oxford Univ. Press, 2016), he seeks to explain why some countries are better than others at science and technology. Prof. Taylor’s research interests also include science and technology policy, comparative democratic institutions, the presidency and the politics of economic growth. His research has been published the in the journals Foreign Affairs,International Organization, Security Studies, Journal of Business Venturing,Review of Policy Research, Harvard International Review, Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, and the Journal of Political Science Education. Dr. Taylor holds a PhD in Political Science from MIT, an MA in International Relations from Yale University, earned a BA in Physics from UC Berkeley, and has also attended university in Japan.

NYC Media Lab - Fifth Annual Summit
2016-09-22 08:00 - 18:00 | Lerner Hall, Columbia University, 2920 Broadway, New York, NY, 10027, United States
NYC Media Lab 16
New York City Media Lab’s Fifth Annual Summit
Columbia University, Lerner Hall
September 22, 2016
8 AM – 6 PM
Register Today
Faculty and students- submit your demos!
NYC Media Lab 16 is NYC Media Lab’s fifth annual summit. The full day event is a snapshot of the best thinking, projects, and talent in digital media from universities in NYC and beyond. This is an opportunity for media executives, technologists, and decision makers to explore interesting technologies and applications related to the future of media. Through thought-provoking discussions, faculty-led workshops, and 100+ innovative demos, attendees will explore pressing issues related to digital media innovation.
We’re preparing for our annual summit, September 22nd, 2016, this year hosted at Columbia University’s Alfred Lerner Hall. Keynotes include Jim Bankoff, Chairman and CEO of Vox Media, and Emily Bell, Founding Director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia Journalism School. Workshops will cover machine learning, virtual reality and user experience design and prototyping. The summit also features the largest demo expo of university media and communications projects of the year- more than 100 projects will be on display. Read on for details on the summit- register early.
Agenda
8:00am Registration
9:00am Welcome & Announcements
9:30am Keynote: Jim Bankoff, Chairman and CEO, Vox Media
10:00am NYC Media Lab Research & Prototyping Showcase
11:30am NYC Media Lab Combine: Startup Pitches
12:00 Noon Lunch, Demo Pavilion & Workshops
3:30pm Virtual Reality: Hope or Hype?
4:00pm Keynote: Emily Bell, Director Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Columbia Journalism
4:30pm Awards Ceremony
5:00pm Cocktail Reception
6:00pm End

Studio Hours
2016-09-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio, 490 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10027, United States
Thursday, September 22nd
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Riverside Church Room 430
Register Today
Do you have an idea and want to get personal feedback from Columbia’s Design Studio? During Studio Hours, teams or individuals are invited to discuss their projects or ideas one-on-one with designers in the Studio.
Teams of Columbia affiliates are welcome to use the studio space for working on their projects during this time.
If you have questions, please reach out to us at designstudio@columbia.edu.

Intro to Design Thinking Workshop
2016-09-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Uris Hall, Room 303
From a newsreader app, to a lowcost infant warmer for developing countries, to simply a more creative team dynamic, design thinking has proven to be a powerful methodology capable of solving challenges of all shapes and sizes. The principles of user research, prototyping, and testing have been used by everyone from product designers, entrepreneurs, humanitarians, among many others, to create innovative, human-centered designed products and solutions.
Please join us for this hands on introduction to design thinking, co-sponsored by the Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio and the Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center. We will focus on needfinding, problem framing, rapid idea generation, and collaboration. The session is fast paced and equally valuable for individuals or teams.

Studio Hours
2016-09-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio, 490 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10027, United States
Thursday, September 29th
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Riverside Church Room 430
Register Today
Do you have an idea and want to get personal feedback from Columbia’s Design Studio? During Studio Hours, teams or individuals are invited to discuss their projects or ideas one-on-one with designers in the Studio.
Teams of Columbia affiliates are welcome to use the studio space for working on their projects during this time.
If you have questions, please reach out to us at designstudio@columbia.edu.

Mini Conference: Real Estate Tech Unbundled
2016-09-29 18:30 - 21:00 | Convene, 237 Park Avenue, New York, 10017, United States
Join
Columbia Entrepreneurship, Columbia GSAPP’s Real Estate Development Program and Metaprop NYC for our
Annual Fall Entrepreneurship Mini Conference
Featuring Panel Discussions, Startup Demos and a Student-Alumni Networking Reception
Real Estate Tech Unbundled

With

Amol Sarva, Ph.D.ʼ96CC, Founder & CEO Knotel
&
Marc Hollidayʼ90GSAPP, CEO of SL Green Realty Corp.

REGISTER NOW
Moderated by
Zach Aarons ‘13BUS Co-Founder MetaProp
September 29th 2016
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Convene Conference Center (website)
237 Park Avenue (@45th btwn Park & Lex, Lobby Level)
Register Now
Real Estate, one of mankind’s oldest and largest industries, is undergoing a profound unbundling and technological transformation. Accelerating this trend is the phenomenon of Real Estate Tech Startups which have seen a 100% increase in investment in the past year, raising $1.37B in Q2 of 2016 alone.
Historically, the dynamics of the Real Estate industry had been very stable, with legendary dynastic families and well established public REITs dominating the marketplace. However, we are now seeing a a massive tech disruption that is challenging longstanding RE models.
Each niche in the RE sector (i.e. commercial, residential, property management, consumer and smart buildings) now has its own specialized applications. New startups are popping up left and right, launching innovative marketing disintermediation technology, drones, augmented reality platforms and 3D printing.
Mini-Conference: Real Estate Tech Unbundled
Columbia Entrepreneurship, in partnership with Metaprop NYC and the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation’s Real Estate Development Program is hosting a mini conference that will unpack and explore the exploding dynamics of an industry in flux.
Two panels, a demo session with Columbia-founded real estate startups, and an alumni-student networking session are planned. Light snacks, beer and wine will be served.

First Panel: “The Founders”, moderated by Metaprop NYC’s Zach Aarons

Amol Sarva Ph.D. ’96CC, Founder & CEO of Knotel
Stu Ellman, Columbia Business School professor & co-founder of RRE Ventures
Jonathan Wasserstrum ‘12BUS, co-founder and CEO TheSquareFoot
Susannah Vila ‘15BUS, TechStars ’15, founder of Flip

Second Panel: “The Practitioners”

Marc Holliday ʼ90GSAPP Columbia Trustee, CEO, SL Green Realty Corp
Robert Entin EVP & CIO, Vornado Realty Trust
Jamie von Klemperer President, Kohn Peterson Fox
Denis Hickey, CEO Lendlease, Americas

Hosted by

Columbia 2016 Social Enterprise Conference
2016-09-30 08:45 - 17:00 | Lerner Hall, Columbia University, 2920 Broadway, New York, NY, 10027, United States
Columbia University 2016 Social Enterprise Conference
Cities Transformed:
Empowering Individuals, Businesses & Communities
Friday, September 30, 2016
8:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Columbia University, Lerner Hall Auditorium
2920 Broadway (Entrance on Broadway, between 115th and 114th Street)
New York, NY 10027
Register Here
Urbanization is shaping the human experience in powerful ways. More than 3.5 billion people — half the world’s population — now live in rapidly-growing cities, including 80% of United States residents. Will urban change expand opportunity and equity, or will it entrench inequalities? How can social innovations transform cities in ways that fully empower individuals, businesses, and communities?
Featuring keynote speakers Anthony Foxx, United States Secretary of Transportation; John Paul Farmer ’04BUS, Director of Technology & Civic Innovation at Microsoft; and Andrew Salkin, Senior Vice President, City Solutions at 100 Resilient Cities!
This conference will feature panels on:
Transformations in Individuals: Building Diverse Urban Human Capital Pipelines (see speakers)
Transformations in Businesses: Driving Inclusion in the Tech and Startup Space (see speakers)
Transformations in Communities: Designing the Urban System (see speakers)
Learn more about our speakers here: bit.ly/2016SEConfSpeakers
Check out the full Conference program

NYC Startup Job Fair
2016-09-30 12:00 - 17:00 | IAC Building, 555 West 18th St, New York , 10011, United States
Find your dream job!
Register Today
The Startup Job Fair is an event that connects the best startups with talented job seekers.
The event was first founded in late 2009 during the height of the recession. The Startup Job Fair has now become a premier, nationwide platform for startups to hire exceptional talent. The event is open to startups of all growth stages and job seekers of all experience levels.
Find the next local event and get involved!

Design Sprint: Intro to User Research
2016-09-30 13:00 - 16:00 | Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio, 490 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10027, United States
One of the core tenets of human centered design is understanding the needs of others. The ability to uncover and solve unmet needs is something all successful startups do well. Additionally, this acute awareness of users has been proven to drive innovation and creativity in more traditional settings.
Join us in this introductory sprint to learn how to use design tools including interviewing, analogous spaces, empathy probes, and more. By the end of the sprint, you will have practiced these tools to understand communities and pinpoint areas of opportunity for entrepreneurship.
This sprint is hands-on and fast paced! Come with your own idea or we will provide you with a topic to research. This event is open to all Columbia affiliates.

Columbia Data Science Student Challenge
2016-09-30 13:00 - 2016-10-01 12:00 | Davis Auditorium, Schapiro, New York City, 10027, United States
The Columbia Data Science Student Challenge is part of a global series of Hackathons. These events are designed to ignite a passion for the amazing things made possible by Data Science and to help students develop the skills necessary to harness the power of analytics.
Register Today
A variety of learning resources will be made available and the hackathon will suit students with a background in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Statistics, Analytics and Math.
With a prize pool including $9,000 in cash, as well as t-shirts and other swag for all participants, it’s a great opportunity to build your skills, meet other top students, have fun and win great prizes. The Columbia Data Science Student Challenge is a collaboration between Columbia Data Science Society, Data Science Institute Columbia University and Microsoft.

Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski, U.S. Airforce at Data Science Institute Colloquium Series
2016-10-04 14:30 - 16:00 | Davis Auditorium, Schapiro, New York City, 10027, United States
Join the Columbia University Data Science Institute
No Registration Required
Potential adversaries have carefully studied the American way of war and U.S. reliance on aerospace power. They are investing heavily in technologies to deny the air superiority advantage we have enjoyed for more than a generation. Our dominance is no longer assured. This presentation will explore how the Air Force is planning to “out innovate” near-peer competitors and deliver multi-domain air, space and cyber capabilities in support of a new Third Offset Strategy. It will highlight new operating concepts and technologies like autonomy, hypersonics, directed energy and additive manufacturing to fly, fight and win in 2030 and beyond.
General Pawlikowski employs some 80,000 people and managing $60 billion annually. The Air Force Research Lab is in her portfolio and she has led efforts to tackle “big data” in the lifecycle of Air Force designs, processes and parts.
General Ellen M. Pawlikowski
Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski serves as Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The command employs some 80,000 people and manages $60 billion annually, executing the critical mission of warfighter support through leading-edge science and technology, cradle-to-grave life cycle weapon systems management, world-class developmental test and evaluation, and world-class depot maintenance and supply chain management.
General Pawlikowski entered the Air Force in 1978 through the ROTC program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She then attended the University of California at Berkeley and received a Doctorate in chemical engineering in December 1981, entering active duty at McClellan AFB, California, in April 1982.
General Pawlikowski’s career has spanned a wide variety of technical management, leadership and staff positions including command at the wing and center levels. She has served as Director of the Acquisition Management Office for the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy and as Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Counterproliferation, Office of the Secretary of Defense. Her leadership assignments included Program Director of the Airborne Laser Program; Commander of the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing; Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office; Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory; and most recently Commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center.
General Pawlikowski is nationally recognized for her leadership in the US science and technology community. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the National Academy of Engineers.
Prior to her current assignment, General Pawlikowski was the Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
1978 Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark
1981 Doctorate of Philosophy in chemical engineering, University of California, Berkeley
1984 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1990 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1991 Program Managers Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va.
1994 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1982 – December 1984, Director, Gas Research and Development, Technical Operations Division, McClellan AFB, Calif.
2. December 1984 – March 1986, Chief, Mass Spectrometry and Micro-beam Instruments Branch, Technical Operations Division, McClellan AFB, Calif.
3. March 1986 – December 1987, Command Systems Plans Manager, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick AFB, Fla.
4. December 1987 – July 1989, Chief, Plans and Programs Division, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick AFB, Fla.
5. July 1989 – July 1990, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. June 1990 – December 1991, Deputy Chief, Special Projects Division, Rome Laboratory, Griffiss AFB, N.Y.
7. December 1991 – July 1993, Senior Executive Officer, Rome Laboratory, Griffiss AFB, N.Y.
8. July 1993 – June 1994, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
9. June 1994 – March 1996, Director, Acquisition Management Office, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
10. March 1996 – June 1997, Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Counterproliferation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. June 1997 – June 1999, Chief, Revolutionizing Training Division, Training Systems Product Group, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. June 1999 – March 2000, Deputy Director, Global Power Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
13. April 2000 – March 2005, Director, Airborne Laser System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
14. March 2005 – July 2007, Commander, Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
15. July 2007 – May 2008, Vice Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
16. June 2008 – February 2010, Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va.
17. February 2010 – May 2011, Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
18. June 2011 – June 2014, Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center and Program Executive Officer for Space, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
19. June 2014 – June 2015, Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
20. June 2015 – present, Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1994 – March 1996, Director, Acquisition Management Office, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
2. March 1996 – June 1997, Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Counterproliferation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
3. March 2005 – July 2007, Commander, Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif., as a brigadier general
4. June 2008 – February 2010, Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va., as a major general
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Individual Recognition Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1984 Commandant Trophy, Squadron Officers School
1999 Air Force Association Management Award – Executive
2012 Women in Aerospace, Lifetime Achievement Awards
2012 Thomas D. White Space Award
2012 Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
2014 Member, National Academy of Engineering
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 25, 1978
First Lieutenant May 25, 1981
Captain May 25, 1983
Major March 1, 1988
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 1992
Colonel Oct. 1, 1996
Brigadier General June 1, 2005
Major General July 22, 2008
Lieutenant General June 3, 2011
General June 8, 2015
(Current as of June 2015)

2016-10-05 08:00 - 17:00
Do you have an idea and want to get personal feedback from Columbia’s Design Studio? During Studio Hours, teams or individuals are invited to discuss their projects or ideas one-on-one with designers in the Studio.
Teams of Columbia affiliates are welcome to use the studio space for working on their projects during this time.
No need to register

Studio Hours
2016-10-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio, 490 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10027, United States
Do you have an idea and want to get personal feedback from Columbia’s Design Studio? During Studio Hours, teams or individuals are invited to discuss their projects or ideas one-on-one with designers in the Studio.
Teams of Columbia affiliates are welcome to use the studio space for working on their projects during this time.

Law Studio Office Hours
2016-10-13 02:00 - 17:00 | Riverside Church, MLK Building, 5th Floor, Suite 519-521, 490 Riverside Dr , New York, 10027, United States
We are proud to welcome Charles Torres to campus and to announce the start of the Columbia Entrepreneurship Startup Law Studio sponsored by Perkins Coie. Columbia Entrepreneurship has partnered with Charles Torres, head of the Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice and Partner at Perkins Coie to provide free professional startup law office hours for interested student startup teams in the Columbia community.

Register Now
“The Columbia Entrepreneurship Startup Law Studio provides
a unique window into real-world VC lawyering.
The university-wide collaboration made possible by this Columbia Entrepreneurship-Perkins Cole partnership
is an exceptional opportunity for Columbia Students.”
– Nathalie Russell ‛14CC
How it Works
Sign up now for a 20-minute session held between 2:00 PM and 5:oo PM Thursday, October 18th. Once you register we’ll contact you to arrange the precise time. In October we’ll be on the fifth floor of Riverside Church Suite #519-521. Next month we’ll be at the Columbia Startup Lab, then back on campus in December.
Mouse Type (lawyers love mouse type):
Hurry, space is limited
Currently-enrolled students only please
Once you register, we will contact you to arrange your 20-minute session
All sessions will be conducted on a pro-bono basis. The sessions will be observed by Columbia Law School Students, who seek to gain startup law experience by observing the office hours. These participating students who will gather with Charles afterwards to ask relevant questions and discuss the case confidentially.
Charles Torres
About Charles Torres
A fixture in New York City venture for over 15 years, Charles is a trusted advisor for emerging technology companies at all stages of development, as well as the institutions and individuals who invest in them. His practice focuses on counseling companies through formation, minority and control investments, debt financings, mergers and acquisitions and related portfolio dispositions. He has been a passionate contributor to the New York City tech ecosystem: he opened the first major law firm office in Brooklyn; he is the founder of the Startup Center at Brooklyn’s growing Northside Festival; he is creator of the Emerging Company Workshop, a lecture series he teaches at Columbia Business School and its downtown Columbia StartupLab; he was the creator of VCs on Skis, a venture networking event for the New York City community; and he was a founding partner of WomenInnovateMobile (a first in kind accelerator for female-founded companies).

Studio Hours
2016-10-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio, 490 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10027, United States
Thursday, October 13th
1:00pm to 4:00pm
The Design Studio (Riverside Church Room 430)
Do you have an idea and want to get personal design thinking feedback from the Design Studio? During Studio Hours, teams or individuals are invited to discuss their projects or ideas one-on-one with human-centered designers in the Studio. Teams of Columbia affiliates are also welcome to use the studio space for working independently on their entrepreneurial projects.
The first hour (1-2pm) is for independent work only; coaching begins at 2pm.
If you have questions, please reach out to us at designstudio@columbia.edu.

Hackathon: Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
2016-10-14 09:00 - 2016-10-16 14:00 | New Lab, 63 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, 11205, United States
Register Today
Think you’ve got what it takes to tackle some of the toughest Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief challenges facing modern urban centers?

Join us October 14-16, 2016 to celebrate the launch of the MD5 National Security Technology Accelerator with our first hackathon at the New Lab in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. You’ll rub shoulders with our country’s military elite and have the chance to show them what you’ve got.
3 day event.
Very worthy cause.
And 15K for the winning concept.
Earn it by showing you’ve got the hack chops. It’s that simple.

Registration is now open! You can sign up for any of these three individual events or join us from start to finish with the Weekend ticket.

Launch Event (Friday, October 14, 9:00 am-12:00 pm) Kick-off the weekend with the launch of MD5 featuring a keynote by the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and speakers in the tech community.

Workshop Event (Friday, October 14, 1:00-6:00 pm) Learn about humanitarian assistance and disaster relief challenges directly from first responders and engage in discussion on how to build products and solutions with impact. Includes lunch.

Hackathon Event (Friday, October 14, 7:00 pm-11:30 am Sunday followed by judging)

Test your creativity and skills prototyping technology solutions for critical humanitarian assistance and disaster relief applications in the dense urban environment. 40.5 hours of coding time. Friday dinner and all weekend meals provided. Only the Weekend ticket gives you access to all three events.

Register now or visit www.md5.net/hackathonf16 for more information on speakers, day-by-day agenda, event logistics and event FAQs.

Also, for those participating in the hackathon, there is a Hackathon Participant Agreement in place that requires consent during the Eventbrite registration process. For any questions about the agreement, please email info@md5.net

Mission: Restore's Hero Celebration
2016-10-14 20:00 - 23:55 | New York City Fire Museum, 278 Spring Street, New York, 10013, United States
What: Fall Fundraiser to celebrate and support better access to life saving surgery around the world. Come celebrate with an OPEN BAR, MUSIC, AUCTION, and AMAZING PEOPLE!
When: Fri, Octoboer 14th, 2016 @ 8PM
Where: New York City Fire Museum (278 Spring St. NYC)
Get your Tickets HERE
General Admission $100. Use the Young Professional Board code YPBDISCOUNT for $25 off*
*(limited number available. Expires 10/1)

BOOK TALK: Capital and the Common Good
2016-10-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Uris Hall, Room 332, 3022 Broadway, New York, NY, 10027, United States
Capital and the Common Good
How Innovative Finance Is Tackling the World’s Most Urgent Problems
with professor
Georgia Levenson Keohane
Monday, October 17, 2016
Uris Hall, Room 332
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
RSVP
Despite social and economic advances around the world, poverty and disease persist, exacerbated by the mounting challenges of climate change, natural disasters, political conflict, mass migration, and economic inequality. While governments commit to addressing these challenges, traditional public and philanthropic dollars are not enough. Here, innovative finance has shown a way forward: by borrowing techniques from the world of finance, we can raise capital for social investments today. Innovative finance has provided polio vaccines to children in the DRC, crop insurance to farmers in India, pay-as-you-go solar electricity to Kenyans, and affordable housing and transportation to New Yorkers. It has helped governmental, commercial, and philanthropic resources meet the needs of the poor and underserved and build a more sustainable and inclusive prosperity.

Capital and the Common Good shows how market failure in one context can be solved with market solutions from another: an expert in securitization bundles future development aid into bonds to pay for vaccines today; an entrepreneur turns a mobile phone into an array of financial services for the unbanked; and policy makers adapt pay-for-success models from the world of infrastructure to human services like early childhood education, maternal health, and job training. Revisiting the successes and missteps of these efforts, Georgia Levenson Keohane argues that innovative finance is as much about incentives and sound decision-making as it is about money. When it works, innovative finance gives us the tools, motivation, and security to invest in our shared future.

Natural Vs. Unnatural Acts: What George Bernard Shaw Taught Me About Startups
2016-10-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Columbia Startup Lab, 69 Charlton St. @ Varick, NYC, 10014, United States
The Columbia Women Inventors Network and the Columbia Startup Lab present a talk from Michael Sikorsky, CEO and co‐founder of Robots and Pencils. Michael will talk about what every startup and new venture can learn from the nineteenth century Irish playwright, critic and polemicist – what are common mistakes people make, and how to overcome the seduction of unnatural acts.

Micheal Sikorsky, CEO and Co-Founder, Robots and Pencils Inc.
Michael is the CEO and co-founder of Robots and Pencils Inc. With over 20 years of experience creating first-of-its kind software, he is a renowned strategist, innovator and pioneer in the mobile tech space.
At Robots and Pencils, Michael leads a world-class team of developers and designers who have created over 250 apps used by 77 million people worldwide. Founded in 2009 with the vision that mobile will be more transformative than the Internet, the team has built a reputation for creating top-ranking consumer apps, transformative enterprise apps and world-first learning platforms. With a growth rate of 4971% over five years, Robots and Pencils was named the 34th fastest growing technology company in North America in 2014.
Michael credits the success of his company to its secret sauce – a process for following the talent as well as an internal ‘one culture’ partnership between award-winning artists and developers. Everything that Robots and Pencils does starts by blending the sciences with the humanities – the robots with the pencils. No stranger to the spotlight, Michael has been widely celebrated for his entrepreneurial thinking, and, most recently, he was one of only six in the world invited to the 2014 World Entrepreneur of the Year awards as part of a special citation on global growth.
Driven by a love of learning and new insights and ideas, Michael is currently completing executive education programs at the MIT Sloan School of Management and The Columbia Business School.
