The Virginia Tech National Security Institute is seeking a Senior Advisor, Acquisition Innovation Research to support long-term planning and management of academic research portfolios that are focused on bringing innovation to Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition through interdisciplinary research that includes policy, technology, tools, data, and workforce development.
Based on the foundation of the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology, Virginia Tech launched the National Security Institute in September 2021 with a mission to meet the pressing needs of the defense and intelligence communities by advancing interdisciplinary research, technology, policy and the development of specialized talent. With a presence in Blacksburg and Washington, D.C., metro area, the Virginia Tech National Security Institute carries out its mission with a mix of education programs and research programs. Education programs engage undergraduates and graduate students through experiential learning, scholarships, internship, and career opportunities in the national security sector. Research programs support graduate assistantships through sponsored research with defense and intelligence organizations.
The successful candidate for the Senior Advisor, Acquisition Innovation Research will help to expand the Virginia Tech National Security Institute research portfolio and partnerships in the areas of digital engineering, mission engineering, test and evaluation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. A successful candidate will have experience managing multiple interdisciplinary research projects that support continuous improvement of the Department of Defense acquisition lifecycle policy and process through innovative and transformative use of technologies, tools, data, and analytics. The successful candidate will have an ability and willingness to work collaboratively with faculty and researchers from a variety of disciplines across academia, industry, and non-profit organizations. The successful candidate will also proactively work to establish new relationships with government research sponsors, as well as expand partnerships with research collaborators from academia, industry, and non-profit organizations. This position will prepare and deliver materials on the makeup of research portfolios, capabilities, current research, and future opportunities. They will also assist the Deputy Director of the Virginia Tech National Security Institute in shaping future directions for the research portfolios.