Shari Feth Director, Innovation, Science and Technology Missile Defense Agency

Dr. Shari Feth is an engineering and science executive with 35 years of experience in program, product and systems engineering as well as missile and sensor systems, test, research and development. Prior to joining the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), she served three years in the NASA Space Architect’s Office and five years in Research and Development. She has been with the MDA since 2004, joining the ranks of Senior Technical Executives (ST) in 2017 and Senior Executive Service (SES) in Nov 2018.  She currently serves as MDA's Director, Innovation, Science and Technology where she is responsible for coordinating the infusion of technology innovations into the Missile Defense System leveraging collaboration across the Department of Defense, Industry (large and small), Academia and other Government Agencies. Her previous positons include: Program Executive, Advanced Technology where she was responsible for developing the technologies that formed the bases for MDA's Next Generation Interceptor and Glide Phase Interceptor; Director Science and Technology where she coordinated science and technology efforts across the Agency and aligned efforts with priorities. She also held positions as the Chief Systems Engineer of the Sensors Directorate, the Sensors Engineering Functional Lead and as a Test Mission Manager. Before transitioning to MDA, Dr. Feth worked at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, with positions in the space architects office on a Systems Engineering Tiger Team working initial development trade studies and requirements definition for future NASA manned and cargo vehicles and conducting fundamental scientific research as a research scientist in semiconductor materials development. Prior to completing her Ph.D. she worked at Idaho National Engineering Labs and Oak Ridge National Labs in optical sensing and crystal growth, respectively. She has conducted fundamental research in materials engineering, semiconductor crystal growth, in-situ monitoring, optics, non-destructive testing, and fiber optics. Dr. Feth holds a Patent for a sapphire optical fiber interferometric sensor. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 

(VA Tech) and completed her education with a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from VA Tech in 1996. 

Dr. Feth grew up in Wyoming and still enjoys outdoor activities. She currently resides in Huntsville, AL with her husband.