Peter Lee, former head of the Computer Science Department and a professor of computer science, will become managing director of Microsoft Research Redmond this fall. Lee had joined the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency last year to direct its new Transformational Convergence Technology Office.

"Peter has long played a strong leadership and service role within the research community, both at DARPA and Carnegie Mellon University," said Rick Rashid, senior vice president of Microsoft Research and a former SCS faculty member. "His extensive background in both research and service to the community will allow him to continue the tradition of excellence in research at Microsoft and help lead us to new heights."

Lee also served Carnegie Mellon as vice provost for research from 2006-2007, before being named head of CSD in 2007. He joined Carnegie Mellon as a research scientist after receiving his PhD in computer science and communication technology at the University of Michigan and became a full professor in 2000.

"Microsoft Research is an incredible place," Lee said. "The researchers are truly world-class and doing work that is expanding the frontiers of knowledge. And, while Microsoft Research's revolutionary advances affect just about every desktop, enterprise and mobile system in the world, what I find most exciting is Microsoft Research's ability to influence and inspire countless numbers of researchers, students and technology leaders. This unique combination of world-class research, impact on billions of systems and influential thought leadership is simply exhilarating. I can hardly wait to get started."

Lee is internationally recognized for his contributions to computer science research and, in particular, for the use of advanced language technology in the design, implementation and analysis of operating systems and networks. He is best known for co-developing "proof-carrying code," a patented technology that enables a computer system to automatically determine that a program obtained from another system is safe to install and execute. He also is an award-winning teacher who served as SCS associate dean for undergraduate programs from 2000 to 2004.

At DARPA, Lee infused new energy into the agency's relationships with academia and industry and reinforced the agency's unique role at the intersection of research and application. One of the highlights of his work was the DARPA Network Challenge, which mobilized millions of people worldwide in a hunt for red weather balloons — a unique experiment in social media and open innovation that made an impact on thinking throughout the Department of Defense.