The National Institute of Standards and Technology has appointed Melissa Midzor as director of its Communications Technology Laboratory. Her responsibilities include setting standards and creating precision and simulation instruments to measure capabilities and support emerging wireless technologies' commercialization.

Immediately before her appointment, Midzor served as chief of the institute's spectrum technology and research division, NIST said Monday. She joined NIST in 2018 as program manager for the institute's National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network, a multi-agency partnership of government and commercial testing facilities.

Before working at NIST, Midzor was the division director for the Naval Air Systems Command's Electronic Warfare Integrated Laboratories.

Laurie Locascio, NIST director and undersecretary of commerce for standards and technology, described Midzor as "an invaluable asset," with her practical background and academic record. "Her experience is crucial as we promote innovation in advanced communications while working to ensure that our communications systems are reliable, private and secure," Locascio said.

Midzor has a PhD in physics, specialized in nanotechnology, from the California Institute of Technology and dual bachelor degrees in physics and sociology from the University of Colorado Boulder.