Meet Our People

SRI's innovative thinking depends directly on the people who work here. Meet members of our team in Computing and Engineering, Chemistry, Physics and Materials, Drug Discovery, Drug Development and Health, Economics and Education, Environment and Energy, Business Development, and Administration and Corporate Activities, and learn why they joined SRI—you may discover that you would like to join the team, too. Visit Careers @ SRI for descriptions of current openings.

Meet Rich Mahoney, Director, Robotics Program, Engineering and Systems

Focus at SRI:
My job is to help lead the way forward for SRI’s robotics program in the Engineering & Systems Division. We have a noted history as pioneers in robotics, and we are definitely a player in the field today. But there are opportunities in robotics that no one has accessed yet. I would like SRI to be recognized as the driving innovator in robotics technologies and services. In my role, I hope to meld some of the practices I learned in industry with SRI methodologies, to help manage our future growth.

Day in the Life at SRI:
Being relatively new to SRI, I spend a great deal of my time meeting people — SRI staff from Engineering & Systems Division — and  from other divisions, our customers in Washington, D.C., our colleagues at SRI's subsidiary, Sarnoff Corporation, our industry partners, and clients. It’s energizing; everyone has been extremely supportive with their time and guidance. The robotics market is complex, so I spend the rest of my time working on strategy and direction.

Before SRI:
I was the U.S. General Manager for an international medical device start-up focused on stroke therapy robotics. I was the first hire in the U.S. and was responsible for guiding the product development and all aspects of U.S. operations. It was a great learning experience.

Academics:
Ph.D. Cambridge University, England;

B.S., M.S. Drexel University, Pennsylvania

Why SRI?
SRI is sea of opportunity. In my position, I can draw on a unique and accomplished organizational track record, high-performance-minded staff and colleagues, and top-tier market relationships. SRI is also poised for continued future growth. I like being an interface between technical talent and the market — there is unlimited opportunity for me here in that role.

Inspiration and Motivation:
I love to be at the seed stage of anything.  I enjoy turning an idea into a strategic roadmap.  It is inspiring to find the vision in an opportunity, and then to pull together the first critical mass of believers.

What has changed in your field since you began your career, and what new or exciting trends are you seeing?

We are witnessing the first tangible consumer and professional markets based on real robotics products. The military is funding development of robotics technology at levels never seen before. Many students are pursuing robotics as a career. Although I think the market is still a little over-hyped, it seems to be fueling up for a launch.

Proudest Professional Accomplishment:
I attended my first year at Cambridge on a Fulbright scholarship. It has set the tone for the rest of my career.

Languages:

I dabble in Russian.

Away from the Office:
My wife and I both enjoy the calamity and challenges of raising our large family. I’ve also been active in the sport of rowing for about 20 years, as an athlete, coach, and entrepreneur. A nice personal experience was helping to form a rowing program at our high school, and then getting to see my daughter compete in that program.

Words of Wisdom for New SRI Team Members:
Products and technologies are not the only focus of innovation. I attended a talk recently that highlighted how one of the best opportunities to create value is to innovate around the business process or model.