Leading With Purpose
Discover how CASC's vision, values, and rich history guide our collaborative efforts to advance scientific research.
Our Mission
- Advocate for public and private investment in research computing and data services
- Advise federal agencies on relevant funding programs
- Engage in policy discussions on research computing
- Foster a community of leaders
- Provide a forum for sharing strategic ideas and best practices
Our Vision
CASC envisions a robust, sustainable ecosystem supporting academic research computing and data services, enabled by a vibrant community of professionals.
CASC Executive Committee
Rich Knepper
Executive Committee
Jill Gemmill
Executive Committee
Barr Von Oehsen
Executive Committee
Jim Wilgenbusch
Executive Committee
Preston Smith
Executive Committee
Kathryn Kelley
Executive Director
Committees
Mallorie McIlwain
Kristin Lepping
Marisa Brazil
Paul Redfern
John Strawn
Brian Connelly
Stephanie Suber
Joshua Baller
Jill Gemmill
Erik Deumens
Jim Wilgenbusch
Rich Knepper
Preston Smith
Alana Romanella
Tabitha Samuel
Barr von Oehsen
Carolyn Ellis
Nominations Committee
Alastair Neil
Benjamin Lynch
Mike Navicky
Katia Bulekova
Suranga Edirisinghe
Hussein Al-Azzawi
Jill Gemmill
Alex Pacheco
Jeremy Frumkin
Doug Jennewein
Nan McKenna
History & Impact
1989
Founding of CASC
A coalition of leading academic institutions forms to advocate for federal investment in high-performance computing and research infrastructure.
1990s
Membership Growth & NSFnet
CASC grows from 12 to 30+ member institutions. NSFnet becomes the backbone network connecting research universities across the nation.
2000s
National Infrastructure Expansion
NSF establishes TeraGrid. NIH builds national computing infrastructure. DOE and NSF fund petaflop-class supercomputers, transforming the scale of computational research.
2010s
HPC Becomes Pervasive
NSF launches the XSEDE program in 2011. High-performance computing becomes pervasive across research disciplines and industry applications.
2020s
A New Era of Computing
CASC celebrates its 35th anniversary. Adapting to AI, data science, and exascale computing. NSF launches the ACCESS program in 2022. Executive Director Kathryn Kelley presents at a Congressional briefing in 2024.
Governance
Promoting Team Science
CASC facilitates collaborations among diverse groups of researchers, institutions, and federal agencies to tackle complex scientific challenges through shared infrastructure and coordinated investment.
Advancing Computational Research
CASC promotes groundbreaking research and technological advancements in high-performance computing, data science, and AI by connecting member institutions with federal funding opportunities and strategic partnerships.
Engaging Policymakers
In 2024, CASC Executive Director Kathryn Kelley presented at a Congressional briefing on the importance of sustained federal investment in research computing infrastructure and workforce development.
Supporting Emerging Leaders
CASC nurtures future computational research and data leaders through grants, scholarships, and mentorship programs including the CI Leadership Academy and the Susan Fratkin Scholarship.
Sharing Best Practices
CASC facilitates knowledge-sharing sessions at member meetings and conferences like PEARC and SC, enabling institutions to learn from each other's operational and strategic experiences.
Providing Thought Leadership
CASC participates in international conferences and discussions, shaping the future of computational research through position papers, response letters, and coalition advocacy.
Impacting Policy
Our Positions Committee and workgroup on Research Ecosystem Inclusivity are working to foster a more inclusive research computing community and influence federal policy on equitable access to computational resources.