President, Arkansas Science & Technology Authority

John Ahlen is president of the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority, an instrumentality of the state with the mission of bringing the benefits of science and advanced technology to the people and state of Arkansas. The Authority uses direct investments or tax incentives to promote a broad range of important job creating activities, including math and science education, scientific research, technology transfer and development, seed capital investments, knowledge-based-company entrepreneurship, and technology extension services to manufacturers.

Ahlen spent a year as a fellow at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where he worked on state-federal technology partnerships. He has a B.S. in bioengineering and Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Before coming to the Authority, he served as assistant director for science and technology at the Illinois Legislative Council, where he directed the science policy research activities of the Council’s science unit. He is an ASME fellow.