Former director of UI research center to retire

Gary Maki, the former director of the University of Idaho’s Center for Advanced Microelectronics and Biomolecular Research who was demoted in 2007, is retiring. Now a professor of computer and electrical engineering, the 66-year-old Maki says it is his decision to retire next week and he’s not being forced out. A 2006 audit of the center Maki directed found Maki and other employees improperly used university resources to benefit companies in which they had an interest. Maki was demoted in 2007 after a plan came to light that appeared to involve discrediting former colleague Kenneth Hass by orchestrating a letter from NASA critical of Hass’ work at the center. Hass’ criticism of how Maki ran the center initiated the 2006 audit.