Durham, NC - Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, talks with Duke engineer David Smith on his research on metamaterials during a visit to Duke's French Science Center Friday.

Dempsey's tour of Duke labs was part of a two-day visit to campus that included a talk on American military strategy at Page Auditorium Thursday night. 

In addition to visiting Smith's lab, Dempsey also met with engineer Leslie Collins on research about landmine detection; engineer April Brown and infectious disease specialist Dr. Chris Woods who are working with Dr. Geoffrey Ginsburg on a defense-funded research on early viral detection; and (pictured below) biologist Sonke Johnsen about research on cephalopod camouflage. 

Dempsey's wife also visited with researchers at the VA Medical Center to learn more about Duke and the VA's efforts in treating post-traumatic stress disorder and outreach to military families.

Photos by Jon Gardiner, Duke University Photography