Truly was replaced by Edward K. Reedy , who served from 1998 to 2003 . Reedy encouraged funding researchers who had ideas that needed support , and introduced a new cost accounting standard for recovering indirect expenditures . Reedy was particularly influential in securing the $ 7.3 million in funding required to build the Food Processing Technology Building . Under his leadership , GTRI 's first endowed chair was established in March 1998 in honor of Glen P. Robinson , the $ 1.5 million Glen P. Robinson Chair in Electro-Optics . GTRI and Georgia Tech played host to sitting president George W. Bush in March 2002 ; a mock disaster was staged during the visit , demonstrating new technologies . At the end of Reedy 's tenure , GTRI had $ 115 million in research contracts ( equivalent to $ in ) , a new high . Much new funding came as an indirect result of the September 11 attacks and the resulting War on Terrorism as the DOD increased related research
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Georgia Tech Research Institute