James Carlini Chief Technology Officer Leidos

James F. Carlini is the chief technology officer at Leidos, where he is responsible for the development and implementation of corporate technology and engineering strategies, including the capture, execution, and transition of contract research and development through the Leidos Innovations Center (LInC).

Prior to joining Leidos, Carlini founded a consultancy where he provided services to a wide range of industry and government national security organizations. He also served as the chair of the Georgia Tech Research Institute External Advisory Committee and co-founded Zeteo Tech, LLC, a small business that develops advanced solutions to medical diagnostics and chemical and biological defense challenges.

Prior to founding his consultancy, Carlini served at Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, with his most recent position being vice president of Advanced Development Programs. He was responsible for the strategic planning, capture, and execution of advanced development programs in the Electronic Systems Sector. He had responsibility for advanced development programs in the areas of force protection, strike and combat, advanced surveillance systems, chemical and biological defense, land combat, and navigation systems. He also served as the vice president of Products and Technology, where he was responsible for the strategic planning and execution of advanced research and development efforts, intellectual property management, and strategic technology agreements for the Electronic Systems Sector.

Prior to Northrop Grumman, Carlini was the director of the Special Projects Office (SPO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He was responsible for the strategic planning and execution of science and technology investments totaling approximately $250 million annually. He formed the SPO to develop, focus, and apply advanced technologies and systems to emerging national security and military challenges. Specifically, SPO invested in high-risk technologies to address tactical sensing from space, space control, hard and deeply buried target characterization, GPS jamming mitigation, cruise missile defense, chemical and biological warfare defense systems, and mobile target engagement. Prior to DARPA, Carlini was a senior engineer at Science Applications International Corporation.

Carlini is a member of the Defense Science Board and a former member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and the Army Science Board. He has received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service and the OSD Medal for Exceptional Public Service. Carlini holds a Master of Science in electrical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Drexel University.