Walter Copan

Walter Copan
Copan in 2015
Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology
In office
October 16, 2017  January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byWillie E. May
Succeeded byLaurie E. Locascio
16th Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
In office
October 16, 2017  January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byKent Rochford (acting)
Willie E. May
Succeeded byLaurie Locascio
Personal details
Born
Walter George Copan
EducationCase Western Reserve University (BA, PhD)
Scientific career
FieldsPhysical chemistry
Institutions
ThesisCarbon-13 and Nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of rhodopsin and bacteriorhodopsin (NMR) (1982)

Walter Copan is an American chemist and government official who served as the under secretary of commerce for standards and technology and the 16th Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology from 2017 to 2021. Prior to assuming that role, he worked as president and CEO of IP Engineering Group Corporation and as a board member of Rocky Mountain Innovation Partners.