I lead portfolio management and product development in biosciences, human performance, and human-machine integration. I drive long-term research strategy, guide Army transformation, and advance dual-use technology development. As an advocate for increased funding, I help grow the Army's R&D portfolio and foster strategic partnerships by merging external innovation with internal efforts. Prominent Accomplishments:* Increased annual Congressional appropriations to integrate social sciences R&D insights to inform policy-making and to advance AI-supported team decision-making R&D.* Negotiated a partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence securing ongoing investment in the Army Soldier-Autonomy Teaming Collaborative Research Alliance.* Delivered strategic briefings to US-UK Stocktake country deputies, leveraging insights from a previous investment to secure a new OUSD(R&E) bilateral academic R&D collaboration, targeting misinformation countermeasures.* Published thought leadership on biotechnology and human enhancement in international journals and books, sharing insights and advocating for dual-use technology development.* Earned Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal for exemplary service and ARL corporate awards for Research Management, and for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility highlighting outstanding leadership and contributions.

In this period, I steered neurophysiology of cognition and human-machine teaming R&D portfolio in academia and industry. I Conducted global tech scouting to identify emerging basic research in alignment with portfolio vision. I Supervised source selection and SME technical evaluations for funding decisions. I Oversaw grants, agreements, and contracts for Army Contract Command as contracting officer representative. I Presented research outcomes in senior-level briefings to support Army concept development.Basic Contributions:* Secured investment from Office of Undersecretary of Defense (R&E) for interdisciplinary R&D expansion.* Achieved increase in congressional appropriations to support groundbreaking Army neurotechnology and human-autonomy interaction research.* Managed and enabled strategic governance of DARPA cooperative agreements for the White House BRAIN initiative.* Provided IRB regulatory oversight and Army Human Research Protection management of DoD and academic projects.* Chaired Brain Health Working Group committee to influence Army Surgeon General to enact new public health policy.* Advised Scientific Advisory Boards for the Army Asymmetric Warfare Group, AFRL, and DEVCOM Soldier Center, evaluating research progress and providing strategic recommendations to senior leadership to optimize project outcomes and align efforts with organizational goals.* Recognized as Most Promising Scientist in government by Black Engineer of Year STEM Awards (BEYA).

Over this course of employment, I spearheaded pioneering human dimension R&D and technical scouting initiatives across Europe and the Middle East, collaborating with academia and industry. I also developed strategic objectives with foreign governments and executed innovative joint R&D projects.Key Attainments:* Created and managed an international human-machine teaming collaborative R&D partnership; secured funding by proposing an initiative to DoD and convincing the UK Ministry of Defence to co-invest, advancing joint defense and security.* Secured investment from UK Ministry of Defence to transition joint basic research outcomes to prototype.* Collected data from NATO exercises as an invited member of NATO Research Task Group HFM-285, uncovering significant force readiness issues linked to hearing deficits and influencing subsequent policy on soldier operational fitness.* Received Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal for outstanding contributions.

Administered the John H. Hopps, Jr. Defense Research Scholars Program by tracking student progress and conducting program evaluation. Oversaw program staff and served as liaison to program faculty serving as research mentors.o Mentored 76 undergraduate research scholars and established a professional development program to facilitate knowledge sharing and skill development.o Awarded K-12 Education Policy Fellowship by Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education

I efficiently designed and conducted experiments to test hypotheses, gather data, and used statistical and computational techniques to interpret experimental results. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, I integrated research with broader projects.Key Attainments:* Published five peer-reviewed research papers, with one recognized by the faculty of 1000.* Chosen as Life Sciences Fellow for Advisory Board at Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology.* Received prestigious IRACDA Fellowship in Research and Science Teaching from National Institutes of Health (NIH K12/GM000680).* Granted Problem-Based Learning Curriculum Development Fellowship by Arthur Blank Foundation.* Awarded Drug Abuse Training Grant Fellowship [T32/DA015040] from National Institutes of Health.Additional professional experience as Defense Ventures Fellow, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Menlo Park, CA | Honorary Research Fellow, Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, UK | Venture Capital Consultant, Luminous Ventures, London, UK | Program Manager, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA | Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA