Dr. Giovanni Milione is a Senior Researcher and Business Incubation Lead in the Optical Networking & Sensing Department at NEC Laboratories America, Inc. (NECLA), where he drives the development of groundbreaking optical technologies that span communications, sensing, and computing. With a focus on translating cutting-edge research into commercial and societal impact, Dr. Milione bridges the gap between scientific innovation and business viability. At NECLA, his work includes pioneering research in space division multiplexing over optical fibers and free space, the application of machine learning to distributed acoustic sensing, and analog optical computing. His ability to lead both technical development and business incubation makes him a key contributor to the future of photonic and AI-enabled systems.
Dr. Milione earned his B.S. degree in Physics from Stony Brook University, his M.A. degree in Physics from CUNY (The City College of New York), and M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees from CUNY The City College of New York/Graduate Center, where he was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. He has authored over 100 publications and patents, with his work cited approximately 5,000 times. His research spans fundamental physics to applied technologies, including innovative approaches involving optical polarization, structured light, and optical communication and sensing systems. Among his notable contributions are advancements in real-time biometric authentication using photo-acoustic tomography, new techniques in high-speed and long-distance free-space and optical fiber communication using optical orbital angular momentum and multimode and multi-core optical fibers. His work in applying deep learning to distributed optical fiber sensing is pushing the boundaries for physical security.
In recognition of his achievements, Dr. Milione was selected to participate in the National Academy of Engineering‘s prestigious U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium—an honor reserved for the nation’s top early-career engineers. Additionally, he was named Top 40 Under Forty by his undergraduate alma mater, Stony Brook University. He is also a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and brings the same discipline and mission-driven mindset to his scientific and entrepreneurial endeavors. At NEC Labs America, Dr. Milione continues to lead projects that shape the future of optical and AI-enabled technologies, while fostering collaborations that turn laboratory breakthroughs into transformative real-world solutions.