University of Maryland Joins Commission on U.S. Quantum Primacy

COLLEGE PARK, Md - The University of Maryland announced today that Gretchen Campbell, Associate Vice President of Quantum Research and Education, has been appointed to the newly formed Commission on U.S. Quantum Primacy (CUSP). Campbell joins the high-level, bipartisan body that is tasked with developing a comprehensive national strategy to ensure the United States remains the global leader in the rapidly accelerating quantum competition.

 

As quantum technologies transition from theoretical physics to operational reality, the window to secure a durable advantage is narrowing. CUSP will bring together leaders from Congress, the national laboratories, and the private sector to bridge the gap between innovation and national power. 

 

“Gretchen Campbell’s appointment reflects the University of Maryland’s long-standing leadership at the forefront of quantum discovery and translation,” said Patrick O’Shea, UMD’s Vice President and Chief Research Officer. “Her expertise and collaborative approach will help ensure that the United States not only advances breakthrough technologies, but also builds the partnerships, workforce and infrastructure necessary to secure a lasting competitive advantage.”

 

CUSP will be led by co-chairs Ylli Bajraktari, Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). They are joined by a distinguished group of experts and policymakers at the intersection of technology and security:

 

• Megan Anderson, Executive Vice President of Technology, IQT
• Gretchen Campbell, Associate Vice President for Quantum Research and Education, University of Maryland
• Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, IonQ
• Jay Gambetta, Director of Research and IBM Fellow, IBM
• Pat Gelsinger, General Partner, Playground Global
• Jack Hidary, Chief Executive Officer, SandboxAQ
• Mit Jha, Chief Executive Officer, Quantum Corridor
• Thomas Mason, Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Whitney Mason, Director of the Microsystems Technology Office, DARPA
• Laura McGill, Director, Sandia National Laboratories
• Hartmut Neven, Founder and Lead, Google Quantum AI.

 

“Quantum science is at an inflection point. The discoveries of the past several decades are rapidly becoming technologies that will shape national security, economic competitiveness and the future of innovation,” said Campbell. “I am honored to serve on the Commission on U.S. Quantum Primacy and to work alongside such distinguished leaders to ensure the United States builds a secure, resilient and forward-looking quantum ecosystem.”

 

The Commission’s purpose is to ensure that the emergence and diffusion of quantum

technologies strengthen U.S. national security, drive technological transformation, and bolster economic might. To achieve this, CUSP will focus on three core pillars:

 

• Building a Secure Quantum Industrial Base: Creating a resilient ecosystem of talent, hardware, and supply chains to maintain a long-term technological edge.
• Maintaining Information Advantage: Developing mission-critical algorithms, architectures and protocols, and securing information flows to retain the nation’s data leadership.
• Accelerating Integration and Hybridization: Integrating quantum and classical technologies to identify near-term deployments and ensure the U.S. operational advantage.

 

The Commission will evaluate the current state of the U.S. quantum ecosystem and deliver a final report featuring actionable policy recommendations to ensure that the United States does not merely participate in the quantum age but defines it.

 

For more information on the University of Maryland’s reputation as the premier global hub for quantum research, please visit https://quantum.umd.edu/ or contact mediainfo@umd.edu.