The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) has a new director, Victoria Coleman.
DARPA is the US. government’s arm for applied high-technology.
Reporter Sharon Weinberger calls the men and women of DARPA The Imagineers of War. Her book of the same name is a good introduction to one of DARPA’s most important functions: imagining new ways to fight war.
The new director brings extensive private sector experience to the job.
Coleman served as a founding member of DARPA’s Microsystems Exploratory Council and a member of the Defense Science Board. She has extensive private sector experience, including senior vice president at Technicolor, CTO of Connected Home Business, vice president of engineering at Yahoo!, and vice president of software engineering at Hewlett-Packard Palm Global Business Unit.
DARPA recently completed a simulated dogfight between artificial intelligence and a human F-16 pilot. The agency is also making a push in microelectronics as part of its $1.5 billion Electronics Resurgence Initiative. The Department of Defense also wants to entice American companies to bring microelectronics manufacturing back to the United States.
Source: Top Defense Department research office names new director
