VICKSBURG, Miss. - Dr. David A. Horner is the new director of the High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Information Technology Laboratory. Horner assumed his new duties Jan. 12.
The HPCMP provides the supercomputing capabilities, high-speed network communications and computational science expertise that enable DOD scientists and engineers to conduct a wide-range of focused research, development and test activities. This partnership puts advanced technology in the hands of U.S. forces more quickly, less expensively, and with greater certainty of success. The program serves as an innovation enabler and is employed in a broad range of diverse application areas including fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, climate and ocean modeling and environmental quality.
Horner previously served as lead technical director for ERDC’s Military Engineering Program, where he was promoted to Senior Scientific Technical Manager. In this capacity, he was responsible for research and development activities in force protection, weapons effects and maneuver support, among others. Horner’s duties included integrating these activities across all ERDC functional to solve issues of concern to the Army and DOD.
Prior to his Military Engineering duties, Horner served as chief of the Mobility Systems Branch, within GSL. In this capacity, he led a technical team of engineers, scientists and technicians in the development of basic and applied vehicle mobility research, including the development of advanced physical testing and physics-based modeling of vehicle-terrain interactions.
He is the recipient of numerous professional awards including the Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal, the Army Research and Development Achievement Award for Technical Excellence, the Society of American Military Engineer’s Wheeler Medal, and the Gold Medal from the High Performance Computing Challenge in Supercomputing.
Horner earned a bachelor’s and master’s from Oklahoma State University, followed by a doctorate from the University of Michigan, all in civil engineering.