MRIGlobal Announces New Board Positions
Kansas City, Mo. (October 1, 2026) — MRIGlobal has announced Bill Jeffrey, Ph.D., as new Chairman of the Board, while David E. Hall will continue serving as Vice Chairman of the Board. Past Chairman Pam Berneking will step down and join the Board of Directors. This announcement follows the institute’s most recent Board meeting in September.
“At MRIGlobal, our mission is to improve people’s lives through innovative science and engineering. As our new Chairman, Bill brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and commitment to our mission, and I am confident that his guidance will help position MRIGlobal for continued success,” said Ian M. Colrain, Ph.D., President & CEO, MRIGlobal. “I also want to recognize David, as our Vice Chairman, and Pam, as our former Chairman, for their continued service and dedication to this mission. Together, they will help guide MRIGlobal as we continue to advance solutions in global health and national security that make a meaningful difference in the world.”
Bill Jeffrey, Ph.D., Founder and General Partner of Airstream Venture Partners, has decades of experience in developing and commercializing new technologies as both a U.S. government employee and a private-sector CEO. From 2014 to 2021, prior to founding Airstream Venture Partners, Bill served as CEO of SRI International, a globally recognized nonprofit research and development organization with expertise in the biological sciences, engineering, education policy, and computer science. He also served as CEO of HRL Laboratories, a private research and development organization jointly owned by Boeing Aerospace and General Motors.
David E. Hall, Executive Vice Chairman, Hallmark Cards, Inc. Board of Directors, remains as Vice Chairman of the MRIGlobal Board of Directors, a role he has held since 2023. Hall, a grandson of the company’s founder, Joyce C. Hall, joined Hallmark in 1981. He has held management positions in sales administration, finance, and order distribution. He worked as a staff attorney in Hallmark’s legal department, served as director of retailer relations and communications for the card/specialty channel, and was director of subsidiary integration for a Hallmark greeting card subsidiary. He has served as a member of Hallmark’s board of directors since 1996.
About MRIGlobal
MRIGlobal is an independent, nonprofit research institute that delivers scientific and engineering solutions to improve lives, protect national security, and advance global health. Since 1944, MRIGlobal has performed customized research and development for government and commercial partners, including advanced diagnostics, pharmaceutical development, biologics manufacturing, chemical and biological threat detection and mitigation, engineering services, and mobile laboratory and transport solutions. Visit https://www.mriglobal.org to learn more.
For more information or media requests, contact Vanessa Mittendorf at vmittendorf@mriglobal.org.