Lisa Porter

This article is about the American nuclear physicist. For American materials scientist, see Lisa M. Porter.
Lisa Porter
1st director of IARPA
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma materMIT
Stanford University
AwardsSecretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service (2005)
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (2008)
National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal (2012)
Presidential Meritorious Rank Award (2013)
Scientific career
InstitutionsDARPA
NASA
IARPA
Teledyne Technologies
In-Q-Tel
Thesis Wave heating of the solar corona  (1994)
Doctoral advisorPeter A. Sturrock

Lisa J. Porter is an American scientist and founding Director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity.[1] Prior to this position, she was the Associate Administrator for Aeronautics Research at NASA and a senior scientist in the Advanced Technology Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

In March 2012, Porter resigned from IARPA. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper remarked in Wired that her hallmark as a leader was bringing together the nation's top scientific thinkers to solve difficult problem.[2] She joined Teledyne Technologies as senior vice president of the subsidiary Teledyne Scientific & Imaging.[3] She later joined In-Q-Tel as executive vice president and director of In-Q-Tel Labs.[4]

Porter is the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, a newly created position.[5][6] After her confirmation by the United States Senate, she again will be reporting to Under Secretary of Defense Michael Griffin, her former supervisor at NASA.[7] In her role as DUSD(R&E), Porter helped USD(R&E) Griffin established technology modernization priorities for the DoD.[8]

In 2009, as the Director of IARPA, Porter cancelled the US Quantum Communications Satellite program nine months before launch.[9] On June 24, 2020, Lisa Porter tendered her resignation effective July 10, 2020 to pursue opportunities in the private sector.[10]

  1. ^ Adee, Sally (1 May 2008). "Q&A With: IARPA Director Lisa Porter". IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  2. ^ Shachtman, Noah (5 April 2012). "Leader of 'Darpa for Spies' Steps Down". WIRED. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  3. ^ Messier, Doug (20 August 2012). "Former High-Level DARPA, NASA Official Joins Teledyne – Parabolic Arc". parabolicarc.com. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  4. ^ Bertuca, Tony (2 March 2018). "In-Q-Tel executive nominated for deputy research and engineering post". Inside Defense. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  5. ^ U.S. Congress. 6 March 2018 — Lisa Porter — Department of Defense https://dod.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography-View/Article/1678786/dr-lisa-porter/ — Lisa Porter — Department of Defense. Retrieved 7 March 2018. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ "Latest Action: 05/10/2018 - Committee on Armed Services. Hearings held". U.S. Congress. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  7. ^ "NASA's new budget is unveiled". Johnson Space Center. 6 February 2006. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  8. ^ "modernization-priorities – DoD Research & Engineering". www.cto.mil. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  9. ^ "Los Alamos team ready for next step on quantum communications project". 17 May 2013.
  10. ^ "Statement from Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper on the Resignations of Drs. Michael". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 2020-06-25.