Greg Witkop
Program Manager
Defense Sciences Office
Dr. Greg Witkop, MD, joined DARPA as a program manager in the Defense Sciences Office in June 2021.
A former Army flight surgeon, Witkop first delved into the intricacies of neuroscience during his ophthalmology residency, captivated by the phenomenon of blindsight over three decades ago. Following a stint in private practice, he answered the call of duty post-9/11, joining the FBI as a Special Agent in 2002. There, he spearheaded national security investigations and held academic roles that allowed him to engage in diverse research, from improvised explosive device (IED) detection to neuro-cognitive strategies aimed at reducing opioid addiction in burn patients.
Upon retiring from the FBI, Dr. Witkop transitioned to DARPA in 2021, driven by a mission to address the Invisible Wounds of War. He now oversees five groundbreaking research programs, involving over 100 researchers from 20 universities, corporations, and DOD labs. These initiatives aim to revolutionize the traditional, subjective approach to mental illness by fostering an objective, mechanistic understanding of brain dysfunction, paving the way for preventative and precision brain health interventions.
Dr. Witkop is unwavering in his commitment to destigmatizing mental illness, advocating that mental health is influenced by environmental and neurological factors, much like vision is shaped by the eye and brain. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Medicine, and a Master’s in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University.