Dr. James J. Hudgens is president and CEO of UL Research Institutes. A proven leader of top-performing research teams, Hudgens determines the direction, priorities, and strategies for the organization’s scientific research and public education activities. He is widely recognized as a technological thought leader with a focus on transformation, innovation, and growth. Hudgens will also serve as a member of ULRI’s Board of Trustees.

Hudgens previously served as director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute and senior vice president of the Georgia Institute of Technology, leading more than 3,000 employees conducting over one billion dollars worth of research across numerous disciplines.

Before joining Georgia Tech, Hudgens worked for more than 18 years in a variety of leadership positions at Sandia National Laboratories. He won the prestigious U.S. Department of Energy Secretary’s Honor Award for Achievement while managing Sandia’s Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Systems department.

Hudgens earned a Ph.D. and a B.S. in ceramic engineering from Iowa State University. He has authored numerous publications and presentations.