Affiliated Fellows

Michael W. Powers, Senior Fellow

Michael W. Powers is a Senior Fellow of the Institute. Mr Powers most recently served as the Technical Director for Geospatial Research and Engineering within the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center.

Prior to joining the Institute, Mr. Powers gained 30 years of increasing responsibility and leadership in Department of Defense related research, development, technical management and thought leadership, addressing Command and Control (C2), Military Intelligence and Geospatial Intelligence requirements and capability solutions. Within this area of expertise, specific focus and research was devoted to soldier and Marine decision-making processes as well as information and knowledge management. 

Mr. Powers served as the Technical Director for Geospatial Research and Engineering within the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center from 2006 through 2011.  Prior to that position, his career in technical program development and management within the Army and at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency resulted in the successful development, transition and fielding of decision aids and analytic tools supporting missions ranging from small unit operations through strategic ballistic missile defeat.

Mr. Powers attended the Federal Executive Institute residency program, where he developed and later applied skills in effective team formation, team innovation and group problem-solving and individual and team mentoring. These skills also proved effective in performing the evaluation of organizational effectiveness as related to an organization's mission, objectives, processes and operations. 

Mr. Powers received his B.S. from Salisbury State University in Geography and his graduate studies were at the University of Maryland and the University of Virginia in Geography and Systems Engineering, respectively.  Mr. Powers is the recipient of the Army's Meritorious Civilian Service Award, Superior Civilian Service Award and the Bronze De Fleury Medal for his contributions to the Engineer Regiment.