Special Assistant
Directors Office
Col. James Harwell, U.S. Army, joined DARPA in 2025 as special assistant to the director/Army operational liaison. Prior to DARPA, he served as senior commander of Dugway Proving Ground since 2023 where he was responsible for the execution of all Joint Force chemical and biological defense testing, testing of unmanned aerial systems, and training of Joint chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) technical forces. Additionally, he was responsible for command of the most remote and isolated installation in the continental United States, and the fourth largest Army installation.
Harwell was commissioned as a chemical officer and has led CBRN formations at the platoon, company, and battalion levels. Prior to his command, he served as deputy director of the Joint Requirements Office for CBRN Defense, Joint Staff J8, where he oversaw the development and approval of all Joint CBRN material and non-material requirements documents.
In his role as special assistant, he advises the director on military technology matters as they relate to mission of DARPA. In his role as the Army operational liaison, he supports the agency in Army matters including mentorship of agency technology experts, transition of technology to the Army, and shaping future programs toward Army missions.
Military Training
- Operational Art and Theater Planning, U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies
Education
- M.S., Business Management, University of Phoenix
- M.A., Policy Management, Georgetown University
- B.A., Political Science, Indiana University
Areas of expertise
- Strategy development and implementation
- CBRN planning and operations
- Material and non-material requirements generation