D-Wave creates a new unit dedicated to government work
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) said on Tuesday that it has launched a new business unit that will be dedicated to working with the US government, with a primary focus on driving adoption of quantum computing with the Department of Defense.
The unit will be led by Jack Sears, Jr., whom the company calls a "seasoned government and public sector executive."
D-Wave noted in a press release that calls have been made by "several members of the U.S. Department of War’s leadership" for quantum applications. The Department of War is an unofficial secondary name used by the Defense Department.
Emil Michael, the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, unveiled the department's six Critical Technology Areas (CTAs) last month. Michael said that these CTAs represented "the cutting edge of research and engineering" that would "deliver immediate, tangible results to the warfighter and ensure the United States remains the most lethal fighting force in the world."
Among the six CTAs is Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID).
"These six Critical Technology Areas are not just priorities; they are imperatives," Michael said in a statement. "The American warfighter will wield the most advanced technology to maximize lethality. This is how the War Department wins wars."
Sears will serve as the new business unit's vice president of government solutions, where he will oversee government-related go-to-market efforts for D-Wave. He will also lead product development and customer support for "secure systems that meet federal requirements."
D-Wave notes that Sears has more than 25 years of experience developing and executing on organizational growth strategies at companies that work with the federal government in the defense and aerospace industries.
“The call to use quantum technologies to address our nation’s interests is increasing, as the U.S. government faces complex challenges that require more powerful and agile problem-solving resources to protect our nation,” D-Wave CEO Dr. Alan Baratz said in a statement. “By formalizing a U.S. government-focused business unit under Jack’s leadership, we aim to facilitate the rapid development of quantum applications that address national security, defense, and infrastructure challenges.”
Shares of D-Wave rose 5% on Tuesday. It has surged 167.7% for the year, riding a wave of bullishness that Wall Street has for quantum stocks.
D-Wave announced in April that it had completed assembly of a quantum computer that could be used for military applications.
The D-Wave Advantage2 annealing quantum system has been assembled at the headquarters of Davidson Technologies in Huntsville, Alabama.
Davidson is an engineering company that supports the U.S. Department of Defense and major aerospace contractors.
Sears said in a statement that D-Wave is "uniquely positioned to address many of the challenges facing our government."
"With D-Wave’s quantum technology capable of solving real-world problems today and a quantum computing system operational in Alabama that is expected to eventually handle sensitive applications, now is the time to aggressively push quantum adoption in service of national security and defense," he added.