RICHARDSON, Texas (May 15, 2003) - Dr. John W. Fischer, director of the Naval Aviation Science and Technology Office, will discuss issues and technology related to the Navy's Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection Program June 11 at 9 a.m. in the auditorium of Karl Hoblitzelle Hall on the campus of The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). Fischer's presentation, which is free and open to the public, is part of UTD's ongoing Homeland Lecture Series.

The Navy's Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Program is a training program that is implementing new programs and using the latest technology to prepare America's sailors for the security challenges due to today's heightened tensions.

Fischer was appointed director of the Naval Aviation Science and Technology Office in January 2001. His duties include planning and coordination of the Naval Air Systems Command's Science and Technology Program. Fischer began his career with the Navy in 1984 as a research chemist in the Research Department of the former Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, Calif. His interests were in the development of new explosives, propellants and nonlinear optical materials. Fischer holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Lawrence University and a doctorate in organic chemistry from Northern Illinois University. He served as a post-doctoral research chemist at The Ohio State University from 1982 to1984.

About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls more than 13,000 students. The school's freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university's Web site at http://www.utdallas.edu.