People Category: AIAA DEFENSE Forum 2020
Nand Mulchandani
Nand Mulchandani serves as the Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. Mulchandani brings more than 25 years of experience in the technology industry as a serial entrepreneur and senior executive in the enterprise infrastructure and security software industries to his service in the government to help transform the Department of Defense in adopting next-generation AI and software technologies.
Prior to government service, Mulchandani was at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, and remains a non-resident Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Mulchandani also served as the Vice President of Market Development and Strategy for Citrix, a leading provider of desktop virtualization and networking infrastructure. He joined Citrix through its acquisition of ScaleXtreme, where Mulchandani was the CEO and co-founder. Prior to his tenure at ScaleXtreme, Mulchandani served in various capacities as CEO, co-founder, senior executive, and entrepreneur-in-residence for a number of technology startups and companies including the venture capital firm Accel Partners, OpenDNS (funded by Sequoia Capital and Greylock, acquired by Cisco), VMware, Determina (funded by Bessemer Venture Partners, Mayfield and USVP, acquired by VMware), and Oblix (funded by Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers, acquired by Oracle). Mulchandani started his career at Sun Microsystems as a compiler architect and holds a patent on dynamic code generation.
Mulchandani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science & Mathematics from Cornell University, a Master in Science in Management from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Jason Stack
Dr. Jason Stack is the Director for the Ocean, Atmosphere, and Space Research Division of the Office of Naval Research (ONR). In this role, he is responsible for planning, execution, and management of integrated basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development for ONR’s Science and Technology programs in physical oceanography, marine meteorology, ocean acoustics, arctic and global prediction, littoral geosciences and optics, marine mammals and biology, and space environments. The Division provides advanced, high-resolution environmental observational and prediction capabilities in support of warfare areas including anti-submarine warfare, mine warfare, and naval special warfare. Dr. Stack also serves as ONR’s Portfolio Manager for Autonomy. In this role, he leads ONR’s corporate strategy; manages the corresponding investment portfolio; and provides focus on transition, operationalization, and fielding for autonomy and autonomous unmanned systems. He is also appointed to the NATO Science & Technology Organization (Systems, Concepts, and Integration Panel) as the Member-at-Large for Autonomy.
Dr. Stack entered the Senior Executive Service in Jan. 2019. He joined the Federal Civilian Service in 2003 as a researcher in the Signal & Image Processing branch of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City, Florida where he conducted basic research in machine learning and applied research in signal processing, automatic target recognition, and autonomous behaviors for littoral warfare applications. He joined ONR in 2008 as a Program Officer leading investments in machine learning, autonomy, and sensor development for the underwater domain. At ONR, he eventually became the Team Lead for the Mine Warfare and Ocean Engineering Programs where he coordinated ONR’s overall portfolio in mine countermeasures, naval mining, explosive ordnance disposal, naval special warfare, and ocean engineering. He is a former US National Lead for TTCP, Maritime Group, TP-13 (Mine Warfare); has led multiple NATO Joint Research Projects; and is a co‐founder of the Mine Warfare Community of Interest focusing on data standards, systems interoperability, and modular open architectures.
Prior to joining the Federal Civilian Service and his graduate studies, Dr. Stack was employed in industry in Raleigh, NC as a design engineer developing power electronics and hydraulic control systems.
Dr. Stack holds the MSE and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the BSE degree in electrical engineering from Mercer University. He was a Georgia Tech President’s Fellow, a registered Professional Engineer, and holds over 40 publications and 2 patents in the fields of signature recognition and autonomous systems. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE.
Alexander Titus
Dr. Alexander Titus is currently the Assistant Director (AD) for Biotechnology within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). As the AD for Biotechnology, Dr. Titus is the technical and oversight lead for all relevant research and engineering matters across the biotechnology portfolio, and is responsible for developing the department’s biotechnology roadmap.
Prior to OUSD(R&E), Dr. Titus was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company focused on working with the defense & security communities on organizational priorities related to advanced analytics and digital modernization. Before consulting, Dr. Titus held a number of roles as a data scientist at In-Q-Tel, Amazon, and Dartmouth College, where his work focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) applications in biology, cyber security, and speech and audio processing. Dr. Titus was also a member of the 2018 cohort of the Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity (ELBI) Fellowship through the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Dr. Titus holds a Ph.D. in Quantitative Biomedical Sciences from the Guarini School of Graduate & Advanced Studies at Dartmouth College, where his work focused on computational epigenetics of cancer and AI/ML applications in biology. He also holds dual BS/BA in biochemistry and biology with an emphasis on quantitative analysis, from the University of Puget Sound.
Nicole Petta
Ms. Nicole Petta joined the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering as the Assistant Director (AD) for Microelectronics in December 2018. In this role, Ms. Petta acts as the Department of Defense (DoD) technical and oversight lead, advising the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and DoD leadership on all relevant research and engineering matters in the critical modernization priority area of microelectronics identified in the National Defense Strategy. She is responsible for a Department-wide look at microelectronics modernization, which includes establishing policies on, and supervising all defense research and engineering, technology development, technology transition, prototyping, experimentation, and developmental testing activities and programs to include the allocation of resources, and alignment of efforts across the Department. In this role, she coordinates with the Services and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to include transition in acquisition strategies and plans; and seeks to ensure a supporting industrial base capability to achieve microelectronics modernization. She will develop an overarching modernization plan rapidly advancing DoD microelectronic capabilities.
Ms. Petta has over 15 years’ experience in materials research, development, and fabrication and has co-authored over 20 publications. Prior to her position with the DoD, Ms. Petta was the Special Assistant to the Director for the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). She developed a long-term strategy for microfabrication research, development and production for the Department of Energy’s Inertial and High Energy Density Programs at LLE. Prior to LLE, Ms. Petta was the Division General Manager of Schafer Livermore Laboratory in Livermore, California. She stood up the laboratory, led manufacturing, developed and oversaw the research and development programs and was responsible for business operations. The laboratory was focused on the manufacturing, research and development of nano and micro-engineered materials, metals, aerogels, foams, films and coatings and the rapid prototyping, precision manufacturing and characterization of assemblies made from these materials.
Ms. Petta has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Sonoma State University and received a certificate in the Executive Program for Women Leaders from Stanford University. Ms. Petta served four years in the U.S. Air Force.
Thomas Karr
Dr. Thomas Karr is the Assistant Director, Directed Energy in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (Research and Engineering). His responsibilities cover all Directed Energy research and development in the Department of Defense.
He has four decades of experience in the application of science to national security. Prior to joining OUSD(R&E) he was a DARPA program manager for six years, where he created new programs for kinetic and non-kinetic effects, communication, information processing and exploitation, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. He was the Director of EO/IR Technology at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems and at Northrop Grumman, and was a Group Leader, Program Leader and senior scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for twelve years. He also co-founded a commercial space company, and consulted for many companies in the national security industry.
He earned his A.B. cum laude in Physics from Princeton, his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Maryland, and was a Joliot-Curie Fellow of the Atomic Energy Commission of France. He has published over 50 scientific papers, serves on the Organizing Committees of three scientific conferences, holds three patents, and he is a Fellow of the Military Sensing Symposia (MSS), the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), and the Optical Society of America (OSA).
Michael Zatman
VADM Jon A. Hill, USN
Vice Adm. Jon Hill is a native of Texas, born and raised on Fort Bliss. A Surface Warfare Officer, designated as an engineering duty officer, he is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University. He earned his Master of Science in Applied Physics and Ordnance Engineering from Naval Postgraduate School.
Hill’s first flag officer tour was program executive officer for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS). In this role, he was accountable for developing and certifying the deployment of all surface ship combat control systems, radars, missiles, launchers, electronic warfare, naval gunnery systems, and surface and subsurface anti-submarine warfare mission capabilities within the fleet and joint force.
Hill previously served as the deputy director, Missile Defense Agency. Other leadership and acquisition engineering positions include AEGIS Shipbuilding (PMS 400), Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Division and Port Hueneme Division, PEO Theater Surface Combatants, and on the Assistant Secretary of the Navy staff for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN RD&A).
He also served on the Joint Staff (J-6), U.S. Army Staff for Missile Systems, and as a senior fellow on the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group (CNO SSG XXVII). He served as technical director for AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense then as AEGIS Combat Systems major program manager responsible for delivering Naval Integrated Fire Control and Counter Air (NIFC-CA) and Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capabilities to forces afloat.
In June 2019, Hill became the 11th director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). In this capacity, he oversees the MDA’s global mission to develop, deliver, and sustain layered capabilities to defend deployed forces, the United States, allies and friends against ballistic missile attacks in all phases of flight.
Personal awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, U.S. Army Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).
JihFen Lei
Dr. JihFen Lei is the Deputy Director for Research, Technology and Laboratories in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering at the Pentagon. She is responsible for championing the Department of Defense (DOD) Science and Technology (S&T) Enterprise, establishing and implementing the S&T strategic vision and DOD imperatives by identifying strategic investment areas and influencing the DOD-wide S&T Strategy and Planning Guidance across the Department’s laboratories. Dr. Lei provides oversight over the S&T workforce and laboratory infrastructure policy including for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and University-Affiliated Research Center (UARC’s), leading to strengthen U.S. technological superiority with world class defense laboratories, workforce and technologies. She also oversees a broad portfolio of S&T programs including the Basic Research program, Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) program/portfolios.
Prior to her current appointment in 2019, Dr. Lei served as the Vice President and General Manager of Teledyne Judson Technologies, a business unit of Teledyne Technologies Inc., holding overall Profit & Loss (P&L) responsibilities. Prior to joining Teledyne in 2015, Dr. Lei was the Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) John H. Glenn Research Center and Technology Directorate at Lewis Field Cleveland, Ohio. She was responsible for overseeing overall research and advanced Technology development portfolio (propulsion, power, communication, instrumentation & controls, physical and biological science, and material and structures). She became a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) in 2003; and served within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, NASA Headquarters and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. She was a senior researcher with the Army Research Laboratory and NASA Glenn.
Dr. Lei earned her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University. She is a graduate of the Leadership and Public Policy Programs from Harvard, Stanford and Bookings. Dr. Lei has published over 100 technical publications and is patented in her field. Her pioneer research and innovation won her three prestigious R&D 100 Awards, the Army Research Laboratory Honorary Medal for Technical Achievement, NASA Turning Goals into Relativity Awards, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)/ The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Best paper award. Her leadership and public service also were widely recognized, including the Presidential Rank Medal of Meritorious Senior Executive, the NASA Public Service Honor Medal and NASA Equal Employment Opportunity Honor Medal. She was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame.
Jagadeesh Pamulapati
Dr. Jagadeesh Pamulapati is the Director, Laboratories Office in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering) (ASD(R&E)). Dr. Pamulapati is responsible for all matters associated with Department of Defense (DoD) laboratories that encompass a Defense Laboratory Enterprise and the approximately 39,000 scientists and engineers that work in the 63 Defense laboratories, warfare centers, and engineering centers across 22 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to laboratory matters, Dr. Pamulapati also leads the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Development Office within the DoD; ensures interchange with Allied friendly nations; and provides advice and assistance in developing policies for rapid technology transition.
Dr. Pamulapati was selected for the Senior Executive Service in January 2016. Prior to this, Dr. Pamulapati was in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) from June 2006. In this position, he was responsible for developing and implementing policy initiatives for the Army’s laboratories. He also fulfilled the role of the Executive Director for Strategic Plans and Program Planning, a Senior Executive Service position, where he was responsible for the Basic Research, Innovation Enablers, Manufacturing Technologies, Technology Wargaming, and International Portfolios.
During his time with the Army, Dr. Pamulapati also served as a senior policy analyst within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, responsible for a broad portfolio of national security interest items; the Chief Scientist and Chief Technical Officer responsible for technology integration for the Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program the Army’s leading transformational initiative consisting of soldiers, manned and unmanned systems within a unifying network; and a scientific liaison to the Army Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8 where he provided technical expertise on science and technology issues.
Dr. Pamulapati began his distinguished career at the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) where he developed advance ultra-submicron high speed devices for next generation optoelectronic integrated circuits and monolithic millimeter wave integrated circuits, infrared materials for forward looking infrared imagers as well as high power infrared laser sources for countermeasure applications.
Dr. Pamulapati received his B.S.E., M.S.E. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He holds eleven patents and has contributed to more than 40 archival journal publications and three books. On numerous occasions, he has been invited to lecture at national and international fora for industry and academia. Besides the Army War College in Carlisle, PA, he has been a visiting lecturer at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway.
Dr. Pamulapati has a myriad of talents and interests outside of science and technology. Besides being a single digit handicap golfer, he is also a pastry arts and design chef holding a degree in Pastry Arts from L’Academie de Cuisine, Gaithersburg, MD.