Coordinated Security Operations Will Extend to All Nano Hub Sites Across Upstate New York

Albany, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY PI) today announced the establishment of a unified police force to include primary stations at its sites in Utica and Albany, as mandated by State University of New York guidelines.

A professional and highly experienced team of safety and security professionals has been recruited to lead the force, primarily, former New York State Police (NYSP) Senior Investigator Tom Louis, who has been named SUNY PI Executive Chief of Police, and recently retired NYSP Major William Sprague, who will serve as chief of university police for the Albany site.

Additionally, retired State Police Senior Investigators Gary Mazzacano and Ronald Campano have been named deputy police chiefs. Mazzacano will also oversee the SUNY PI 24/7 Emergency Response Team (ERT) at all nano hubs across Upstate New York. Gary Bean will continue to serve as chief of university police for the Utica campus.

SUNY PI is working closely with SUNY Police Administration to follow established guidelines for filling positions on the police force consisting of qualified civil service applicants, in accordance with established agreements with the police officers union, and ensure compliance with all Federal and state security rules and regulations. SUNY PI will also be coordinating its safety and security operations with all local and regional police forces.

“This is an exciting time as CNSE and SUNYIT merge into one institution, and establishing a unified police force is paramount,” said Executive Chief Louis. “As SUNY PI continues its mission to create next generation technologies, we must provide next generation security. We are currently working with the SUNY Police Commissioner to staff our stations across the state and further insure our students, personnel, state of the art facilities and physical and intellectual assets are secure.”

Louis retired from the NYSP in 2006 after 33 years on the force. He served as a security supervisor for the New York Racing Association from 2008-2010 and is a current member of the Department of Admissions for the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. As Executive Chief, Louis is responsible for overseeing and coordinating security operations at all SUNY PI sites statewide.

Chief Sprague joined the NYSP in 1978 and retired in 2012 as Troop Commander for Troop G. He was a co-chairman for the Zone 5 Counterterrorism Zone and is a member of the NYS and Northeast Region Chiefs of Police. As chief of university police for the SUNY PI Albany site, Sprague will oversee and coordinate all security services for the Albany NanoTech complex.

“As SUNY PI continues its growth and leadership in nanotechnology, it’s increasingly important that we provide similarly high tech security, which means taking a proactive approach to establishing the highest level of telecommunications, internet, and intellectual property protection,” said Chief Sprague. “This appointment allows me to tap into my years of experience as a Troop Commander and I’m looking forward to working with Executive Chief Louis as we create a world-class security force for SUNY PI.”

Utica Campus Police Chief Gary Bean says, “As the nanotechnology corridor continues to expand across Upstate New York through significant developments such as Nano Utica, we realize security levels must rise to meet new and different demands. We have a strong history of providing a secure environment for our faculty and students and look forward to building upon that as we move forward and assemble this unified, statewide police force.”

Retired State Police Senior Investigator Gary Mazzacano’s appointment as deputy police chief and head of the ERT draws upon his 34 years in the NYSP as well as his additional experience as the Fire Chief for the Greenport Volunteer Fire District, a post he has held since 1997.

Louis, Sprague, Mazzacano and Campano each have experience working with Federal agencies, which is increasingly important as SUNY PI facilities such as the Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center (STC) are recognized with trusted foundry status and provide defense, intelligence and other U.S. government agencies an array of services.

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About SUNY PI. SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY PI) is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem, formed from the merger of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SUNY Institute of Technology. SUNY PI offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany campus, and degrees in technology, professional studies, and the arts and sciences at its Utica/Rome campus. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY PI boasts more than $20 billion in high-tech investments, over 300 corporate partners, and maintains a statewide footprint. The 1.3 million-square-foot Albany NanoTech megaplex is home to more than 3,100 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty. The Utica/Rome campus offers a unique high-tech learning environment, providing academic programs in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and offerings in the arts and sciences. Thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. SUNY PI operates the Smart Cities Technology Innovation Center (SCiTI) at Kiernan Plaza in Albany, the Solar Energy Development Center in Halfmoon, the Photovoltaic Manufacturing and Technology Development Facility in Rochester, and the Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center (STC) in Canandaigua. SUNY PI co-founded and manages the Computer Chip Commercialization Center (Quad-C) on its Utica campus, and is lead developer of the Marcy Nanocenter site, as well as the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Complex, Buffalo Information Technologies Innovation and Commercialization Hub, and Medical Innovation and Commercialization Hub. For information visit www.sunycnse.com and www.sunyit.edu.

#### Media Contact:

Jerry Gretzinger, VP of Strategic Communications and Public Relations (518) 956-7359 | ggretzinger@albany.edu