The Department of Defense has named Victoria Coleman as director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Coleman’s career spans over 30 years in academia, the private sector, and government. She previously served as DARPA’s Microsystems Exploratory Council founding chair and a member of the Defense Science Board.
“During this era of great power competition, DARPA is critical to strengthening the U.S. military’s technological dominance and advancing innovations that benefit our warfighters,” Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael Kratsios said. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Coleman as the new director and look forward to building upon DARPA’s unmatched record of achievement.”
Officials indicated Coleman’s endeavors include work in artificial intelligence, microelectronics, and extensive work in the design and development of mobile devices and other consumer electronics products.
She has an extensive academic background leading research at the University of California Berkeley, Santa Clara University, and the University of London.
Coleman completed her undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Salford and earned her doctorate in computer science from the University of Manchester, officials noted.
With Coleman’s appointment, Acting DARPA Director Peter Highnam is slated to return to his role as the agency’s deputy director.
DARPA was created in 1958 as part of the Department of Defense, officials said, to anticipate, explore and achieve concepts and technology upon which the nation’s future deterrent and defense capabilities depend.