Question 1

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment

Accepted Answer

Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation
The Under Secretary for Acquisition & Sustainment is in charge of the effective acquisition system—all matters pertaining to contract administration, logistics and materiel readiness, installations and environment, operational energy, chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, the acquisition workforce, and the defense industrial base. The Under Secretary focuses on rapidly responding to Combatant Commands’ needs, modernizing nuclear deterrent, executing acquisition reforms, sustaining critical weapons systems, collaborating with emerging partners, and ensuring the nation’s industrial base is robust, secure, resilient, and innovative.

Question 2

Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering

Accepted Answer

Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation
With a focus on R&D and innovation, the requirements of the Under Secretary are to provide technical and research expertise, possess a deep understanding of how to navigate the agency, and serve as a bridge for engaging and inspiring industry to work and support key initiatives and research within the Pentagon. The Under Secretary is responsible for research, development, and prototyping activities across the defense enterprise, and charged with ensuring the technological superiority of the DOD. Furthermore, the Under Secretary oversees DARPA, Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Innovation Unit, the Space Development Agency, the Department of Defense Laboratory enterprise, and the Under Secretariat staff on advanced technology and capabilities. This position is critical for the R&D enterprise.

Question 3

Principal Director for Biotechnology

Accepted Answer

Noncareer Appointment
The Principle Director for Biotechnology is the key leader in biotechnology strategy, investment, modernization, and implementation across DOD, as the senior biotech role in the Office of Under Secretary of Defense (R&D) and senior leader-advisor for each of the services and unified combatant commands. Because biotechnology is crucial, but not traditionally thought of as a defense technology, the role shapes the perspective of senior leaders and policymakers across an entire Federal S&T domain. The Principle Director contributes to war game development and scenarios that would enable the risks and opportunities to be observed in the context of mission applications. This position is important for the Administration because the position provides a service-specific perspective on requirements and priorities in biotechnology development. The Principle are responsible for assessing, developing strategy, and implementing biotechnology modernization across each of the respective mission sets.

Question 4

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Accepted Answer

Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation
The Under Secretary is responsible for consistently providing responsive, forward-thinking, and insightful policy advice to the Secretary of Defense on national security objectives and priorities, oversight of military plans and operations, and in National Security Council deliberations. The Under Secretary assists with the Defense Technology Security Administration.

Question 5

Director, Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE)"

Accepted Answer

Noncareer Appointment
The CAPE Director reports directly to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy to provide analytic advice on all aspects of the defense program, including alternative weapon systems and force structures, the development and evaluation of defense program alternatives, and the cost-effectiveness of defense systems. The CAPE Director develops planning guidance, production of applicable programming guidance, and direction of the annual review program (e.g., Future Years Defense Program—force structure, procurement, manpower, R&D costs). Furthermore, the CAPE Director informs Joint Requirements Oversight Council, and conducts special studies, e.g. military medical care, school systems for military dependents, information technology, and defense economics.

Question 6

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy and Director, Office of Small Business Programs"

Accepted Answer

Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation
The Deputy Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy (DASD) leads a network of over 700 small business professionals and advises on acquisition. They integrate all DOD small business initiatives and oversee the efficient and effective functioning of the Department’s Small Business Specialists and Acquisition Workforce. The DASD provides guidance and oversight to Military Service and Agencies in creating unity of effort over DOD Small Business Strategy, part of the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy. Lastly, the DASD is responsible for small business improvements and partnerships within DOD, especially with startups in tech.

Question 7

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy

Accepted Answer

Schedule C Excepted Appointment
The Assistant Secretary for Space Policy leads DOD space policy. This individual has full oversight over all space activities of the DoD, from procurement of launch vehicles to launch, licensing, and GPS satellites. The Assistant Secretary also leads interagency coordination on behalf of DOD.

Question 8

Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)"

Accepted Answer

Noncareer Appointment
The DARPA Director leads the agency with the mission to "anticipate, explore, and achieve the concepts and technologies on which our Nation's future deterrent and defense must depend." DARPA has contributed numerous breakthroughs for national security and laid the foundation for a series of technology revolutions. Its role is as vital as ever, and ithus the DARPA Director musy be a experienced and creative leader.

Question 9

Secretary of the Air Force

Accepted Answer

Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation
The Secretary of the Air Force is responsible for the affairs of the Air Force, including organizing, training, equipping, and providing for the welfare of 685,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian Airmen and their families. The Secretary oversees Air Force’s annual budget of more than $205 billion, directs the development of strategy and policy, risk management, weapons acquisition, tech investments, and human resource management.

TOP 150 SCIENCE AND TECHNology ROLES IN GOVERNMENT

OUR TOP 150 FEDERAL S&T ROLES

Review our list by clicking on an agency below or downloading a PDF.

Department of Agriculture

Director, BIomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)"

Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH)"

Director, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH"

Deputy Director for Program Planning, Coordination, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), NIH"

Deputy Director for Extramural Research, NIH"

Deputy Director for Science Policy and Outreach, NIH"

Deputy Director for Intramural Research, NIH"

Chief of Staff, Office of the Director, NIH"

Director, Office of Strategic Coordination (OSC), NIH"

National Coordinator for Health IT

Department of Commerce

Secretary of Agriculture

Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics"

Administrator, Agricultural Research Service"

Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment

Department of Defense

NOAA Administrator and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

Deputy NOAA Administrator and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, NOAA"

Assistant Administrator, Ocean and Atmospheric Research (OAR), NOAA"

Chief of Staff, NOAA"

Chief Scientist, NOAA"

NIST Director and Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology

Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services, NIST"

Director, Office of Policy and Strategic Planning"

Associate Director for Laboratory Programs, NIST"

Department of Education

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition &amp; Sustainment

Under Secretary of Defense for Research &amp; Engineering

Principal Director for Biotechnology

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Director, Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE)"

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy and Director, Office of Small Business Programs"

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy

Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)"

Secretary of the Air Force

Department of Energy

Director - Office of Science and Technology Policy

Chief Technology Officer - Office of Science and Technology Policy

Associate Director, Science - Office of Science and Technology Policy"

Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy - Department of Energy

Secretary - Department of Energy

Under Secretary for Science - Department of Energy

Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator - Department of Energy

Assistant Secretary for Electricity - Department of Energy

Department of Health and Human Services

Secretary of Energy

Deputy Secretary

Associate Deputy Secretary

Chief of Staff

Under Secretary for Science

Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator

Director, Advanced Research Project Agency - Energy"

Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs

Executive Director, Loan Programs Office"

Assistant Secretary for Electricity

Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESAR)"

Director, Office of Science"

Director, Office of Technology Transitions"

Assistant Secretary for International Affairs

Director, Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office (AITO)"

Associate Director, Basic Energy Sciences"

Associate Director, Nuclear Physics"

Department of Homeland Security

Director, Office of Education Technology"

Deputy Director, Office of Education Technology"

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development"

Director, Institute of Education Sciences"

Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Chief Data Officer (CDO)

Department of Interior

Director, National Institute Of Justice"

Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics"

Department of Justice

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Deputy Under Secretary and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment

Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering

Assistant Secretary of State for Economic & Business Affairs