The Honorable Zachary J. Lemnios was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 19, 2009 and sworn in on July 2, 2009. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (ASD(R&E)) is the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Chief Technology Office, providing thought leadership for the Department’s near-, mid- and far-term research and engineering efforts to develop the technical capabilities to support the Secretary of Defense goals and priorities and the principal staff advisor for research and engineering matters to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)).
ASD(R&E) implements its mission by operating in a culture of innovation, speed, and agility to rapidly develop breakthrough technologies, prepare for an uncertain future and strengthen the foundation of DoD’s acquisition programs through scientific and engineering support. As DoD’s Chief Technology Office, ASD(R&E) operates in collaboration and cooperation with industry, academia, and government S&T organizations – the “Research Triple” – to discover, develop, and deploy new science and new technology concepts to support national security.
Mr. Lemnios is a Principal member, Committee on Technology of the National Science and Technology Council; Advisor, Defense Acquisition Board; Chairman, Radiation Hardened Oversight Council (RHOC); Chairman, Defense Science and Technology Advisory Group (DSTAG); Chairman, Armed Services Biomedical Research Evaluation and Management Committee; Chairman, DoD Combat Feeding Research and Engineering Board (CFREB); and Chairman, DoD Biometrics Executive Committee.
Before assuming this position, Mr. Lemnios was the Chief Technology Officer of MIT Lincoln Laboratory, responsible for coordinating technology strategy across the organization and for establishing and growing external strategic relationships to support current and future Laboratory missions. He also served as Assistant Division Head of the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Solid State Division, as a member of the Laboratory's Senior Management Council and as the Co-Chair of the Laboratory's New Technology Initiative (NTI) Board.
Between 2002 and 2005, while at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Mr. Lemnios was Director of the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), and previous to that, the Deputy Director of the Information Processing Technology Office (IPTO). In these positions, he oversaw the development of future research thrusts, analyzed and evaluated program proposals and engagements with commercial, academic organizations and represented DARPA on various national committees.
Mr. Lemnios held various positions within industry at Hughes Aircraft Company, Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Ford Microelectronics, Inc. that led to the development and demonstration of advanced microelectronic components. He has served on numerous DoD, industry and academic committees.
Mr. Lemnios received his BSEE from the University of Michigan and his MSEE from Washington University in St. Louis. He has authored over 40 papers, holds 4 patents in advanced GaAs device and MMIC technology and is a Senior Member of the IEEE.
