Ian Higgins

Commander Ian Higgins (U.S. Navy) joined DARPA in June 2023 as a program manager in the Tactical Technology Office. His areas of interest include advanced aerospace technologies, next-generation aerospace vehicle concepts, hypersonics, human-machine teaming, complex weapon systems, behavioral and cognitive psychology, and flight test.

Prior to becoming a DARPA program manager, Higgins was a Chief Developmental Test Pilot for the U.S. Navy. Earlier in his career, he served as a developmental flight test pilot responsible for testing involving mission systems, aircraft loads envelope expansion, ordnance separation, air-to-air refueling, flying qualities, and carrier suitability for the FA-18 and the EA-18G aircraft. Operationally, Higgins completed a carrier-based deployment flying the FA-18.

Higgins holds a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering as a distinguished graduate from the United States Naval Academy, a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Science in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.