Nick Maynard, PhD | Co-Founder and CEO
US Ignite

Nick Maynard is the Co-founder and CEO of US Ignite, where he is responsible for leading the organization in its mission to accelerate technology innovation and strengthen regional economic development. In his previous role as COO, Maynard was instrumental in building out the US Ignite Communities program and establishing the Smart Bases program. He also wrote a white paper on smart transportation incorporated into the Biden infrastructure plan, now a $500M DOT smart cities program funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Before US Ignite, Nick was a Program Director at the National Science Foundation, where he helped launch national advanced wireless research and technology accelerator programs. He was also the Assistant Director at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he launched a Federal R&D portfolio, launching more than $1B in new programs, including a photonics testbed foundry and President Obama’s ConnectHome program of free broadband for public housing students. Previously, Nick was a member of the National Broadband Taskforce at the FCC, where he created a public-private partnership to offer technology training to small businesses in low-income communities. Nick also spent ten years in the telecom industry, consulting with leading global carriers and vendors on next-gen networks and services. Nick received his BA and MA from the University of Chicago and a Public Policy PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.