The NSF FAST Engine builds leadership team following award
FAST — the Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology — is growing its leadership team after the U.S. National Science Foundation announced it will invest up to $160 million over the next decade to strengthen Oregon’s semiconductor ecosystem. FAST is a consortium of nearly 100 partners across higher education, government, the technology industry, nonprofits and investors designed to deliver real results over the next 10 years.
As FAST begins implementation of its ambitious vision, the organization will soon recruit three key positions that will help advance semiconductor innovation, workforce development and regional prosperity across Oregon’s Cascade-Willamette Innovation Corridor. FAST is focused on strengthening U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing through AI-enabled Advanced Process Control technologies while creating opportunities for students, workers, entrepreneurs and communities across the state.
“The NSF Engines award provides an unprecedented opportunity to build on Oregon’s longstanding strengths in semiconductor innovation and manufacturing,” said Rob Stone, interim CEO. “To realize that vision, we’re growing the team that will help connect industry, research, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and community engagement into a single innovation ecosystem.”
Recruiting FAST’s First Chief Executive Officer
FAST will soon launch a national search for a Chief Executive Officer who will lead the Engine’s next phase of growth.
The CEO will provide strategic leadership for one of the nation’s premier place-based innovation initiatives. Working closely with the FAST Strategic Governing Council and partners across the ecosystem, the CEO will guide a complex, multi-institutional organization that spans research universities, community colleges, semiconductor companies, investors, workforce organizations, government agencies, and community partners.
The position will be responsible for advancing FAST’s technical, workforce, commercialization, and regional economic development goals while helping build a nationally recognized and financially sustainable innovation enterprise. The CEO will report to the Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Industry Relations at Oregon State University.
Strengthening Workforce Development Across Oregon
FAST will also post two workforce-focused leadership positions in September that will help expand educational opportunities and strengthen talent pathways into Oregon’s growing semiconductor industry.
The Workforce Development Program Director will serve as the operational leader of FAST’s workforce portfolio, overseeing implementation across workforce initiatives and coordinating project activities, reporting, compliance, budgets, and partner engagement. The position will work closely with project leads and partner organizations to ensure workforce programs align with industry needs and Engine goals.
Supporting that work will be the Education & Outreach Coordinator, who will focus on implementation, communications, engagement, and logistics across the FAST workforce portfolio. The coordinator will work closely with educators, students, community organizations, and workforce partners to expand awareness of semiconductor career pathways and increase participation in FAST-supported programs.
“Developing talent is just as important as developing technology,” Stone said. “These roles will help expand opportunities for students, educators, and workers across Oregon while building the workforce needed to support the future of semiconductor manufacturing.”
Building on Oregon’s Strengths
Oregon is home to one of the nation’s most advanced semiconductor ecosystems and the only place in the United States where advanced logic chips are both designed and manufactured at scale. FAST builds on that foundation by bringing together partners across the semiconductor value chain to advance innovation, accelerate commercialization, strengthen workforce development, and grow economic opportunity throughout the state.
The new positions represent critical investments in both organizational leadership and talent development. Together, they will help FAST expand workforce opportunities, deepen industry partnerships and support the long-term success of the NSF Regional Innovation Engine.
“The people who join FAST today will help shape the future of semiconductor innovation and economic opportunity in Oregon for years to come,” Stone said.
Interested candidates will find the job postings on the OSU Careers website as positions become available.