Primary Job Title Director Primary Organization DARPA
Location Chantilly, Virginia, United States Regions Washington DC Metro Area, East Coast, Southern US Gender Female
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Stefanie Tompkins is the acting deputy director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). She has previously served in several DARPA roles, including, most recently, as director of the Defense Sciences Office, where she led DARPA’s most exploratory office in identifying and accelerating breakthrough technologies for national
security.
Stefanie Tompkins has spent much of her professional life leading scientists and engineers in developing new technology capabilities. She began her technology career in industry, as a senior scientist and later assistant vice-president and line manager at Science Applications International Corporation, where she spent 10 years both conducting and managing research projects in planetary mapping, geology, and imaging spectroscopy. Later, as a program manager in DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office, she created and managed programs in ubiquitous GPS-free navigation as well as in optical component manufacturing.
Dr. Tompkins received a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology and geophysics from Princeton University and Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in geology from Brown University. She has also served as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army.
