Senator Dorgan served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992. He is now a senior member of the Appropriations, Commerce and Energy committees. He also serves as chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and the Democratic Policy Committee.

With his experience and influence in Congress, Senator Dorgan has worked to expand North Dakota's burgeoning energy sector, boost high-tech activities, and spur economic development throughout the state.

In 2002, he proposed the creation of a Red River Valley Research Corridor that would help attract research funding and high-tech companies to North Dakota. The initiative has been a huge success.

As a senior member of the U.S. Senate’s Appropriations Committee, Senator Dorgan has directed nearly $700 million in federal investments to Research Corridor activities. He’s also co-hosted nearly 20 Research Corridor events that have brought well-known, high-tech leaders to North Dakota.

As a result, North Dakota’s high-tech economy has seen a huge boost. Many new innovative businesses now call North Dakota home. In June 2008, a Milken Institute study showed that North Dakota had the fastest-growing research industry out of any state in the nation. In April 2009, the National Science Foundation released a report saying that North Dakota was the third fastest-growing state for federal research projects. And in May 2010, Inc. Magazine said the Research Corridor is one of 20 areas nationwide “Where Great Ideas Are Born.”

As the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), Fernandez is charged with leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the global economy.

With over thirteen years of executive experience, Fernandez has earned a reputation as a strategic thinker, creative problem solver and effective manager. Prior to his appointment, Fernandez led the new development and acquisition team at First Capital Group, an Indiana-based real estate investment firm. Fernandez played a critical role in expanding the firm’s regional and national investment footprint.

Fernandez also served as Of Counsel for Krieg Devault, an Indianapolis-based law firm, where he advised private and governmental organizations on economic development, public finance and policy issues.

Fernandez served as Bloomington, Indiana’s mayor from 1996 to 2003. With his leadership, Bloomington’s economy thrived despite facing significant changes arising from the new global economy. Fernandez worked with business and Indiana University leaders to launch Bloomington’s Life Sciences Partnership, securing more than $243 million in private investments and creating more than 3,700 jobs. He also developed an aggressive downtown revitalization plan resulting in more than $100 million in new investments.

A first generation American, Fernandez received a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Indiana University. He also earned a Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Before Intellectual Ventures, Mr. Jung was chief architect and advisor to executive staff at Microsoft Corporation. During his 10 years at Microsoft, Mr. Jung managed projects relating to Web platforms, semantic web technology, intelligent operating systems, adaptive user interfaces and artificial intelligence. Jung co-founded many Microsoft teams including Windows NT, Microsoft Research, mobile and consumer products, and web services. Before joining Microsoft in February 1990, Mr. Jung ran the Deep Thought Group, working on neural network chips for learning and parallel computation. He also consulted to and wrote software for NeXT Computer, Apple Computer and its Advanced Technology Group, and the Open Software Foundation.

An avid inventor, Mr. Jung holds more than 100 patents worldwide and has more than 900 patents pending. His issued patent holdings are in a variety of areas including biomedical research instruments and neural networks as well as several fundamental patents in object technology, distributed operating systems and semantic data analysis.  Mr. Jung's biomedical research work in protein structure and function has been published in several journals including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the Journal of Biochemistry.

Currently Mr. Jung is a strategic advisor to Harvard Medical School, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Institute for Systems Biology where he advises on future synergies between biology and information technology.

Mr. Jung is also personally committed to several non-profit projects involving technology and science education, and he consults to the Asia Pacific Federation, the Aspen Institute, the China Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, the World Economic Forum and the World Health Organization.

As an inventor, he holds more than 440 U.S. and foreign patents, many of them for innovative medical devices that have expanded the frontiers of health care worldwide. While still a college undergraduate, he invented the automatic, self-contained ambulatory pump designed to deliver precise doses of medication to patients with a variety of medical conditions. In 1976 he founded AutoSyringe, Inc., to manufacture and market the pumps. At age 30, he sold that company to Baxter International Corporation. By then, he had developed a number of other infusion devices, including the first wearable insulin pump for diabetics. Following the sale of AutoSyringe, Inc., he founded DEKA Research & Development Corporation to develop internally generated inventions, as well as to provide R&D for major corporate clients.

The array of products and technologies invented and developed by Dean and the engineering team at DEKA is extremely broad. Some examples of notable breakthrough medical devices invented and developed by DEKA are the HomeChoice™ portable dialysis machine, marketed by Baxter Healthcare and the iBOT™ Mobility System, a sophisticated mobility aid developed for Johnson & Johnson. DEKA’s other projects include: a DARPA-funded robotic arm project intended to restore functionality for individuals with upper extremity amputations; a new and improved Stirling engine intended to convert almost any fuel into electrical power and clean heat as part of a system that is clean, quiet, easy to use and easy to maintain with a long operating life; new water purification technology intended to convert almost any source water into safe drinking water; and many others. Dean is also widely recognized as the inventor of the Segway™ Human Transporter, which was designed to provide a clean alternative for short distance travel and enhance people’s productivity.

Among Dean’s proudest accomplishments is founding FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to understand, use and enjoy science and technology. In 2010, its flagship program, the FIRST Robotics Competition, will reach more than 45,000 high-school students on more than 1,800 teams in 43 regional competitions, seven district competitions, and one national championship. The FIRST Robotics Competition teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. In 1998, the FIRST LEGO League was created for children ages 9-14. Similar to the FIRST Robotics Competition, these young participants build a robot and compete in an event designed for their age group. In the 2009/10 season, over 147,000 children participated in 56 countries. FIRST also offers the Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year-olds and the FIRST Tech Challenge, which provides high-school-aged students with a hands-on learning experience to develop and hone their skills and abilities in science and technology.

Dean has received numerous awards and accolades including the Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment in 1998, the National Medal of Technology from President Clinton in 2000, the Lemelson-MIT Prize in 2002 for Invention and Innovation, the United Nations Association of the USA Global Humanitarian Action Award in 2006, the American Society of Manufacturing Engineers Medal in 2007, the 2008 LEGO Prize, the 2009 Committee for Economic Development Public Policy Award and honorary degrees from more than 25 colleges and universities. Dean was inducted into The National Inventors Hall of Fame in May 2005.