Barbara McQuiston, deputy chief technology officer for science and technology in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, has been elected as chair of NATO’s Defense Innovation Accelerator of the North Atlantic initiative’s Board of Directors.
As chair, McQuiston will help the new civil-military accelerator achieve initial operating capability, drive efforts to boost transatlantic cooperation on critical technology development and promote collaboration with non-governmental entities, the Department of Defense said Tuesday.
Heidi Shyu, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering and two-time Wash100 Award winner, said NATO DIANA “will have steady, expert leadership with Barbara at the helm.”
“In this critical role, she will be well positioned to put her extensive knowledge and experience to work and help put the Alliance’s innovation efforts on the right path for the future,” Shyu added.
McQuiston was appointed as the U.S. representative to the board of directors for the NATO DIANA initiative in October 2022 to work with other allied nations to set the program’s strategic direction.
DIANA aims to bring the defense community and NATO experts together to develop technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, big data processing and space and autonomy, among others.
NATO expects the program to be operational by 2023.
Shyu is set to speak at the Potomac Officers Club’s 9th Annual Defense and Research Summit on March 23. Click here to register for the event, which will bring together experts in the field to discuss DOD innovation priorities in areas of AI, microelectronics, hypersonics and other emerging technologies.