Program Manager
Tactical Technology Office
Col. James "Fangs" Valpiani, PhD, joined DARPA in July 2025 as a program manager in the Tactical Technology Office. He is dual hatted as chief of combat autonomy at the Air Force Test Center.
His areas of research and expertise include combat autonomy for the air and space domains, artificial intelligence and machine learning, human-machine teaming, flight and space test, aerospace systems development, next-generation aerospace vehicle concepts, generative engineering for complex systems, and advanced manufacturing.
Prior to joining DARPA, Valpiani was commandant of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Test Pilot School; there, in addition to other responsibilities, he oversaw the X-62A VISTA fighter autonomy testbed which was integral to the DARPA Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program. Prior, he was chief strategy officer for AFWERX, the innovation arm of the USAF.
Valpiani is an experimental test pilot with more than 1,400 flight hours in 30+ aircraft, including as commander and F-35 evaluator test pilot for the F-35 Integrated Test Force.
Education:
- PhD, Astronautical Engineering, University of Surrey, UK
- MS, National Resource Strategy, The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy
- Master of Philosophy, Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies
- Master of Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
- MS, Flight Test Engineering, French Test Pilot School (EPNER)
- BS, Astronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy