The Utah State University Research Foundation has tapped Niel Holt to lead its Logan, Utah-based Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), according to a Nov. 16 Utah State University press release.

The 340-employee SDL is the largest operating unit of the Utah State University Research Foundation, specializing in building and testing infrared instruments for U.S. government satellites. The lab does about $50 million of business each year.

Holt is a 20-year veteran of SDL, serving most recently as director of the lab’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems business division. He succeeds Doug Lemon, who in December 2008 became executive vice president and director of laboratories for the Utah State University Research Foundation.