Pensacola attorney joins IHMC Board of Directors

Published 1.29.25

Pensacola attorney H. Wesley “Wes” Reeder has joined the Board of Directors for the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC).

Reeder is president and shareholder for Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon. Dr. Morley Stone, IHMC’s chief executive officer, said Reeder’s expertise and experience will be a great asset in continuing to move the Institute forward.

“IHMC is very fortunate to have Wes join our board of directors,” Stone says. “His personal and professional experience — from his U.S. Navy service to his legal career — will be an incredibly valuable resource for us. We all look forward to working with Wes as we move into the next chapter of IHMC’s story.”

Reeder says he has long admired IHMC and its work from afar.

“As a retired service member, I have always been interested in the work IHMC does in support of our military’s mission, both on a broad operational scale and in relation to research and development,” Reeder says. “Personally, just being able to associate and work with all the talented individuals at IHMC is very exciting.”

Reeder is Board Certified by the Florida Bar Association in Construction Law and has extensive experience in construction and commercial litigation. As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, he serves clients statewide with an emphasis on the Panhandle and North Florida, handling a variety of issues including construction defects, contract disputes and related litigation.

Prior to his law career, Reeder served more than 24 years as a Naval Reserve Officer.  While on active duty in the U.S. Navy, he served as a crewman with the Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron —  also known as the Blue Angels.

Community service is important to Reeder, as can be seen by his involvement and leadership in several local and regional associations including the Naval Reserve Officer Association, Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Breeze Rotary Club, Pensacola Heritage Foundation, Blue Angels Alumni Association, Pensacola Runners Association, Fiesta of Five Flags, and Pensacola Navy Days.

IHMC is a not-for-profit research institute of the Florida University System where researchers pioneer science and technology aimed at leveraging and extending human capabilities. IHMC researchers and staff collaborate extensively with the government, industry and academia to help develop breakthrough technologies. IHMC research partners have included: DARPA, the National Science Foundation, NASA, Army, Navy, Air Force, National Institutes of Health, IBM, Microsoft, Honda, Boeing, Lockheed, and many others.