IARPA’s remarkable people—leaders, program managers (PM), and support staff—are the driving force behind our high-risk/high-payoff research effort successes.
From our first director, Dr. Lisa Porter, to our current director, Dr. Rick Muller, our leadership is steeped in technology. Dr. Porter, who served as deputy undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, is the co-founder and current co-president of the management, scientific, and technical consulting firm, LogiQ. Dr. Muller was senior manager of Quantum and Advanced Microsystems at Sandia National Laboratories and led the Quantum Information Science program there. He also served as the director of Department of Energy's (DOE) Quantum Systems Accelerator, one of the five centers DOE created under the National Quantum Initiative.
Dr. Peter Highnam, IARPA’s second director, served as director of research at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and is now the chief strategy officer for the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering.
Dr. Jason Matheny, a former PM, was also IARPA’s third director and in 2021 was selected as President Biden’s senior advisor on technology and national security issues. He is currently the president and CEO of the RAND Corporation.
Dr. Stacey Dixon, our fourth director, was confirmed in 2021 as the principal deputy director of national intelligence (PDDNI). Prior to becoming PDDNI, Dr. Dixon served as NGA’s deputy director.
Dr. Catherine Marsh, our fifth director, is a renowned power-sources expert, led the industry team that put lithium-ion technology on numerous platforms, including NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
Former PM, Dr. Jill Crisman, served as the principal director for AI in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E). Dr. Crisman was responsible for developing the department-wide AI roadmap and unifying and coordinating the department's plans and investments to achieve a competitive advantage in AI. Currently, Dr. Crisman leads the Digital Safety Research Institute (DSRI).
Dr. Jinendra Ranka, a former deputy office director at IARPA, joined DARPA as the director of the Defense Sciences Office in February 2022. Prior to joining DARPA, he was the CEO and a founding partner of JASR Systems.
And former PM and acting office director, Chris Reed, is now the chief innovation officer at Raytheon Applied Signal Technology.
Since all IARPA PMs serve on a term-limited appointment, we have a constant influx of new PMs and innovative new program ideas. To date, IARPA has had more than 100 PMs who are experts in their technology fields and bring imagination and innovation to solving some of the IC’s most difficult challenges.
