Defense Advanced Research Projects AgencyWork With UsNew Program Managers

New Program Managers

DARPA program managers address national security challenges from every possible technology angle and recognize that success comes from attracting the help of scientists and engineers across many different disciplines—in academia, government labs, and companies large and small. Featured here are program managers who have arrived at the Agency within the past six months. They bring with them fresh ideas and priorities, and a sense of urgency to take advantage of their positions at DARPA to catalyze the creation of truly radical technologies. We encourage you to reach out to them as they develop their portfolios of new DARPA programs to share research proposals that reflect your dreams of new capabilities and technologies.

Dr. Gordon Keeler

Dr. Gordon Keeler

Program Manager, Microsystems Technology Office
Dr. Gordon Keeler joined DARPA in August 2017 as a Program Manager in the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO). His objective is to accelerate the development of emerging photonics, electronics, and integration technologies to open new pathways toward revolutionary optical microsystems. More
| Electronics | Integration | Microsystems | Photonics |

Dr. Lori Adornato

Program Manager, Biological Technologies Office
Dr. Lori Adornato joined DARPA as a Program Manager in July 2017. Her interests include interpretation of organismal behavior and development of bio-inspired materials, as well as platforms and systems for marine sensing applications. More
| Chemistry | Maritime | Materials | Sensors |

Mr. Walter Weiss

Program Manager, Information Innovation Office
Mr. Walter Weiss joined DARPA’s Information Innovation Office (I2O) as a program manager in July 2017. His research interests focus on cybersecurity operations. More
| Cyber |

Dr. Al Emondi

Program Manager, Biological Technologies Office
Dr. Al Emondi joined DARPA in June 2017. His focus is on neurotechnology and exploring novel approaches in non-invasive or minimally invasive neural interfaces for cognitive human-machine interaction. More
| Neuroscience |

Dr. Mark Wrobel

Program Manager, Defense Sciences Office
Dr. Mark Wrobel joined DARPA as a program manager in the Defense Sciences Office in 2017. His interests include the development of new capabilities for detecting and interdicting nuclear and radiological terrorism, as well as technologies supporting the homeland security mission. More
| Fundamentals | Sensors |

Dr. Mark Costello

Program Manager, Tactical Technology Office
Dr. Mark Costello joined DARPA in June 2017 as a program manager in the Tactical Technology Office. His interests include understanding the dynamic behavior of complex mechanical and aeronautical devices, creating new aerospace devices, developing unique control mechanisms, designing innovative sensor systems, and creating control laws for specific applications. More
| Air |

LTC Philip Root, USA

Program Manager, Tactical Technology Office
LTC Philip Root joined DARPA in May 2017 as a program manager in the Tactical Technology Office. His research interests include unmanned vehicles, collaborative autonomy, and machine learning algorithms. He is particularly interested in leveraging commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies and the adaptability of U.S. warfighters to augment mission effectiveness. More
| Ground |

MAJ Amber Walker, USA

Program Manager, Tactical Technology Office
Maj. Amber Walker joined DARPA in June 2017 as a program manager in the Tactical Technology Office. Her current focus area is advanced hypersonic systems for ground launch. Additional research interests include human-robot interaction, multi-modal and wearable control, shared autonomy, and other technologies to manage warfighter mental workload. More
| Ground |