Paul Eremenko

Eremenko was born in Lviv, Ukraine. His father is the Ukrainian mathematician Alexandre Eremenko. When he was 13, he and his parents emigrated to the United States.

Eremenko earned a bachelor's degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT,{{cite news|title=Aero/astro confers awards on 26|url=http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2001/aero-0606|access-date=28 September 2014|work=MIT News|date=6 June 2001|archive-date=17 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817012813/http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2001/aero-0606|url-status=live}} a Master's in Aeronautics from Caltech, and a J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center.{{cite journal|last1=Brown|first1=Owen|last2=Eremenko|first2=Paul|title=Acquiring Space Systems in an Uncertain Future: The Introduction of Value-Centric Acquisition|journal=High Frontier|date=Nov 2009|volume=6|issue=1|page=43|url=http://www.afspc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-091207-037.pdf|access-date=28 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228073157/http://www.afspc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-091207-037.pdf|archive-date=28 February 2013}} He trained as a pilot at Aretz Airport near Purdue University.

On 23 September 2020, Eremenko announced Universal Hydrogen, a new business venture in aviation conversion systems for hydrogen fuel cells.{{cite web|last=Alcock|first=Charles|title=Conversion Plan Set To Promote Early Switch to Hydrogen Fuel|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2020-09-18/conversion-plan-set-promote-early-switch-hydrogen-fuel|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Aviation International News|language=en|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101142321/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2020-09-18/conversion-plan-set-promote-early-switch-hydrogen-fuel|url-status=live}}

On 30 November 2017, Eremenko was named Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, effective 1 January 2018.{{Cite news|url=http://www.utc.com/News/News-Center/Pages/Paul-Eremenko-Joins-United-Technologies-Corporation-as-Chief-Technology-Officer.aspx|title=Paul Eremenko Joins United Technologies Corporation as Chief Technology Officer|work=United Technologies|access-date=1 December 2017}} Eremenko will provide strategic leadership for the company's research, engineering and development activities in the global aerospace and building systems industries. He will also oversee the United Technologies Research Center. On 18 September 2019, he decided to leave UTC to pursue new opportunities.{{cite news |title=UTC technology chief Paul Eremenko steps down |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-utc-eremenko/utc-technology-chief-paul-eremenko-steps-down-idUSKBN1W32GH |website=Reuters |date=18 September 2019 |access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919144626/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-utc-eremenko/utc-technology-chief-paul-eremenko-steps-down-idUSKBN1W32GH |url-status=live }}

On 29 May 2015, Eremenko was named the founding CEO of Airbus Group Silicon Valley technology and business innovation center. In this capacity, he was responsible for establishing Airbus's Silicon Valley presence. Eremenko became Airbus Group CTO in July 2016 and left Airbus on 31 December 2017 citing pressures on his work-family life balance.{{Cite news|title = Airbus technology head Eremenko to leave for UTC -report|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/airbus-management/airbus-technology-head-eremenko-to-leave-for-utc-report-idUSL8N1O00Z1/|website = REUTERS|date = 30 November 2017|access-date = 30 November 2017|archive-date = 30 November 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171130122341/https://www.reuters.com/article/airbus-management/airbus-technology-head-eremenko-to-leave-for-utc-report-idUSL8N1O00Z1|url-status = live}}

At Google, Eremenko created and headed Project Ara, which seeks to democratize the mobile phone hardware ecosystem and to make the mobile internet accessible to the next five billion people. The project is also developing a production 3D printer to enable aesthetic customization of the modules that form the device.{{cite news|last1=Halleck|first1=Thomas|title=Phonebloks: Motorola Partners With 3D Systems For Modular Smartphone Future In 'Project Ara'|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/phonebloks-motorola-partners-3d-systems-modular-smartphone-future-project-ara-1485168|access-date=28 September 2014|work=International Business Times|date=25 November 2013|archive-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512145835/http://www.ibtimes.com/phonebloks-motorola-partners-3d-systems-modular-smartphone-future-project-ara-1485168|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Talbot|first1=David|title=Why Google's Modular Smartphone Might Actually Succeed|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/news/525386/why-googles-modular-smartphone-might-actually-succeed/|access-date=28 September 2014|work=MIT Technology Review|date=7 April 2014}} The ATAP division at Google aims to replicate the innovation model of the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) in the private sector.

Before moving to Google, Eremenko was Vice President of Advanced Technology at Motorola where he started Project Ara prior to Google's sale of Motorola Mobility to Lenovo, while retaining the project.

Eremenko served as the Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Tactical Technology Office at DARPA, the office responsible for the agency's drones, robotics, X-planes, and satellite programs.{{cite news|last1=Strohm|first1=Chris|title=Google's Motorola Mobility Taps U.S. Defense Agency for Talent|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-15/google-s-motorola-mobility-taps-u-s-defense-agency-for-talent.html|access-date=28 September 2014|work=Bloomberg|date=15 April 2013|archive-date=27 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527040336/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-04-15/google-s-motorola-mobility-taps-u-s-defense-agency-for-talent|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Aguirre|first1=Lauren|title=How Dumb Are Drones?|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/how-dumb-are-drones/|access-date=28 September 2014|work=PBS Nova|date=17 January 2013|archive-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927140012/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/how-dumb-are-drones.html|url-status=live}} While at DARPA, Eremenko developed and managed several projects, including an effort to revolutionize design and manufacture of complex military systems (such as vehicles and aircraft) called Adaptive Vehicle Make,{{cite web|title=How DARPA Aims to Revolutionize Defense Manufacturing|url=http://science.dodlive.mil/2010/09/14/how-darpa-aims-to-revolutionize-defense-manufacturing/|publisher=Armed with Science|access-date=28 September 2014|date=14 September 2010|archive-date=1 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901052015/http://science.dodlive.mil/2010/09/14/how-darpa-aims-to-revolutionize-defense-manufacturing/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Kenyon|first1=Henry|title=DARPA wants to blow up military design process, start over|url=http://defensesystems.com/articles/2010/09/15/darpa-plans-to-reinvent-defense-manufacturing.aspx|access-date=28 September 2014|work=Defense Systems|date=17 September 2010}}{{cite news|last1=Gallagher|first1=Sean|title=DARPA's factory of the future looks like open source development|url=https://arstechnica.com/business/2011/12/darpas-factory-of-the-future-looks-like-open-source-development/|access-date=28 September 2014|work=Ars Technica|date=6 December 2011}}{{cite news|last1=Belfiore|first1=Michael|title=Adaptive Vehicle Make: DARPA's Plan to Revolutionize Auto Manufacturing|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/news/adaptive-vehicle-make-darpas-plan-to-revolutionize-auto-manufacturing-6646618|access-date=28 September 2014|work=Popular Mechanics|date=26 January 2012|archive-date=20 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020135020/http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/news/adaptive-vehicle-make-darpas-plan-to-revolutionize-auto-manufacturing-6646618|url-status=live}} the System F6 fractionated spacecraft program,{{cite news|last1=Montalbano|first1=Elizabeth|title=DARPA Wants Wireless Network For Satellite Clusters|url=http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/darpa-wants-wireless-network-for-satellite-clusters/d/d-id/1101364?|access-date=28 September 2014|work=Information Week|date=16 November 2011|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810172536/http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/darpa-wants-wireless-network-for-satellite-clusters/d/d-id/1101364|url-status=live}} and the 100 Year Starship.{{cite news|last1=Page|first1=Lewis|title=DARPA, NASA team on '100-Year Starship' project|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/03/100_year_starship/|access-date=28 September 2014|work=The Register|date=3 November 2010|archive-date=24 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324114603/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/03/100_year_starship/|url-status=live}} Eremenko was also responsible for a crowd-sourced military vehicle effort called XC2V which was said to revolutionize auto manufacturing.

At DARPA, Eremenko developed two education-themed efforts: DARPA's MENTOR program focused on building a manufacturing workforce, and InSPIRE which made the SPHERES robotic platform on the International Space Station accessible to high school students.{{cite web|last1=Buck|first1=Joshua|last2=Jones|first2=Johanna|title=NASA, DARPA Seek Satellite Research Proposals For Space Station|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/may/HQ_10-103_DARPA_Solicitation.html|publisher=NASA|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-date=7 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807164603/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/may/HQ_10-103_DARPA_Solicitation.html|url-status=live}}

Eremenko started his career as an associate in the defense business segment of Booz Allen Hamilton, consulting in particular for DARPA, which he later joined.

Since Eremenko was responsible for DARPA's drone and robotics programs, he was asked in the 2013 Nova documentary Rise of the Drones whether he was concerned about the dangers of artificial intelligence, he replied "if you were to ask ... whether the Rise of the Machines-type scenario is a real concern ... my response would be, 'We should be so lucky.' In fact, if we could get little slivers of that kind of adaptive and cognitive capability into systems, that would be a very significant breakthrough, from where we stand today."

The 100 Year Starship, which Eremenko headed at DARPA, was named by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn as one of the 100 most wasteful government spending projects. Coburn specifically cited a 100 Year Starship workshop that included one session, entitled "Did Jesus die for Klingons too?" that debated the implications for Christian philosophy should life be found on other planets.{{Cite news|url = http://cagw.org/media/wastewatcher/defense-waste-final-frontier|title = Defense Waste: The Final Frontier|last = Kennedy|first = Sean|date = December 2012|work = Citizens Against Government Waste|access-date = 6 September 2015|archive-date = 16 June 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170616191607/https://www.cagw.org/media/wastewatcher/defense-waste-final-frontier|url-status = live}}

Eremenko was one of the creators and early proponents of a systems engineering strategy for creating more flexible and adaptable products known as value-driven design.

Eremenko is the son of the Ukrainian-American mathematician Alexandre Eremenko and the great grandson of a Marshal of the Soviet Union Andrei Eremenko’s brother Semion. Paul Eremenko was one of the most senior aerospace industry executives who is openly gay.{{Cite news|url = https://fi.co/posts/17121|title = Google Director of Engineering Offers Insight Into Aerospace Tech & Trends in the Hardware Industry|last = Hsiao|first = Jensen|date = 6 July 2015|work = Founder Institute Spotlight|access-date = 6 September 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151002114908/http://fi.co/posts/17121|archive-date = 2 October 2015|url-status = dead}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni

Category:American people of Ukrainian descent

Category:1979 births

Category:Airbus people

Category:MIT School of Engineering alumni

Category:California Institute of Technology alumni

Category:DARPA directors