Richard Weddle is the Director of Innovation Programs where he develops and implements curriculum and education programs to advance innovation for USC researchers, faculty, and students. His career began as a software engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory building the real-time fault-tolerant data acquisition and control systems for the Triton laser isotope plutonium separator. He was a co-founder of Triplex, Inc., a Hambrect & Quist funded venture start-up and maker of ultra-realizable factory automation computers, where as V.P. of Marketing and Sales he helped grow the company to $108 million in sales and sold the firm to I.C.S. Ltd, U.K. While consulting to Nike, Lexicon Branding, Procter & Gamble, General Electric, and Idealab (creating three start-ups), Richard earned a B.S. in accounting and an M.B.A. from California State University Dominguez Hills. He joined Ernst & Young's management consulting practice and delivered innovation services to Global 2000 clients in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Also while at Ernst & Young, he helped build an incubator, oversaw new venture screening, and delivered a company turnaround. Richard holds a top secret security clearance.