Voices from DARPA

A DARPA Debrief - Episode 90

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What happens after you've worked on projects that could change the world?We go beyond the cutting-edge technology and secret labs to explore the most ...

AIxCC: AI Cyber Challenge - Episode 89

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The AI Cyber Challenge, AIxCC, marks a pivotal inflection point for cyber defense.Numerous attacks in recent years have illuminated the ability for ma...

The Idea Pollinators: DARPA Service Chiefs Fellows - Episode 88

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Service Chiefs Fellows connect their operational insights with potential DARPA breakthroughs.We explore DARPA’s Service Chiefs Fellowship Progra...

Racing on the Edge - Episode 87

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RACER enables off-road vehicles to travel autonomously and reliably at high speeds over cross-country terrain, enabling new capabilities for our warfi...

BETR to BEST - Episode 86

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What do smart bandages, ocean-powered sensors, and quantum biology have in common? They’re all part of Dr. Leonard Tender’s work at DARPA. On the ...

More than Microchips - Episode 85

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Microelectronics are the foundation of technology today, but what about tomorrow? Ten years from now? Twenty?Real breakthroughs don’t come from simp...

Episode 84: Hackable Code & the Formal Fix

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

U.S. national security depends on an aging IT infrastructure that supports a vast network of systems spanning the globe. Over the past three decades, ...

Episode 83: When Should Machines Decide?

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What characteristics make a person trustworthy? Under what circumstances would a person delegate life or death decisions to artificial intelligence (A...

Episode 82: Acquisition Awesomeness

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Accomplishing DARPA’s mission of creating and preventing strategic surprise is as much a business challenge as it is a technology challenge.In this ...

Episode 81: DTC - Revolutionizing Triage

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dr. Jean-Paul Chretien and Elissa Rupley from our Biological Technologies Office provide an exciting update from the recent DARPA Tri...

Episode 80: Decentralizing Chemistry

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Dr. Vishnu Sundaresan from our Defense Sciences Office highlights several technology programs designed to precisely control chemical ...

Episode 79: Integrating ELSI

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we’ll be taking a deeper dive into ELSI – ethical, legal, and societal implications of new technologies and capabilities – and ...

Episode 78: Introducing ELSI

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As a global leader in innovation, DARPA starts an average of 50 new programs each year. These programs span a variety of technical disciplines to deve...

Episode 77: Meet DARPAConnect

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Good ideas can come from anywhere, but what is the best way to find them, or help them find you?  In 2022, DARPA hit the road in pursuit of the answ...

Episode 76: The Quantum Logician

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we hear from quantum physicist Dr. Mukund Vengalattore, a program manager in DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office, who oversees a portfol...

Episode 75: The Metamaterial Visionary

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We usually think of materials based on our experience in the natural world. For example, something that’s light is usually fragile (like a feather) ...

Episode 74: Young Faculty Award

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Established in 2006, the Young Faculty Award (YFA) program aims to identify and engage rising academics in early-career research positions - particula...

Episode 73: The AI Cyber Challenge - CTF, Code, and Critical Infrastructure

20 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of the AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) Open Track registration period, which begins later this year, this episode of Voices from DARPA features Perr...

Episode 72: Reinventing Microelectronics Manufacturing

29 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Supply chain disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, among other issues, shined a bright light on the global reliance on microchips. The nati...

Episode 71: The Quantum Mechanic

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In popular culture, quantum is a descriptive term often added to various technical topics and projects to make them sound cool. But what is quantum me...

Episode 70: Innovating How We Innovate

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are many ideas in the world, but truly good ones are few and far between – especially when it comes to breakthrough technologies that can chan...

Episode 69: Demystifying Deepfakes

16 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Generative artificial intelligence has captured the world’s attention after recent advances in the commercial sector. Its ability to create deepfake...

Episode 68: Space Manufacturing

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine you are going to space. There is a long list of items and supplies you definitely will need, but there is an even longer list of things you mi...

Episode 67: Wireless Power Beaming

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast series explores the possibility of an “energy web” that, much like the World Wide Web easily and qui...

Episode 66: How to Create AI Tech We Can Trust

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At a time when the race to create the best artificial intelligence-enabled technology is at its fiercest, experts at DARPA say we need to recalibrate ...

Episode 65: A Sprint to Tomorrow, Powered by Teamwork

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If it seems like microchips have been a consistent conversation topic lately, it’s for good reason. Supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19...

Episode 64: DARPA Triage Challenge

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, we will be hearing from CDR Jean-Paul Chretien about the newly-launched DARPA Triage Challenge. P...

Episode 63: So Many Maps, So Little Time: Using AI to Locate Critical Minerals

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, we talk with DARPA program manager Dr. Joshua Elliott, and Dr. Graham Lederer, research geologist at...

Episode 62: The Model (& Simulation) Researcher

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, we talk with new DARPA program manager, Dr. Alvaro Velasquez, a self-described “researcher at hea...

Episode 61: Manta Ray - Unleashing Robotic Undersea Endurance

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

DARPA’s Manta Ray program seeks to demonstrate innovative technologies allowing payload-capable autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to op...

Episode 60: The Neuroethicist

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, we spoke with Dr. Joeanna Arthur who joined DARPA in August 2022 as a program manager, or PM, in ...

Episode 59: DARPA Forward

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, we sat down with DARPA Director, Dr. Stefanie Tompkins, to discuss the agency’s upcoming DARPA Fo...

Episode 58: The Cryptoprivacist

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, we explore the portfolio of cryptography expert, privacy advocate, and DARPA program manager, Dr. Jo...

Episode 57: Unmasking Misinformation and Manipulation

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, we will discuss DARPA’s Influence Campaign Awareness and Sensemaking (INCAS) program. Adversaries ...

Episode 56: The Future of Food - Meals from Microbes

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that there’s more energy in the packaging of an MRE than what’s in the food? In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, we’...

Episode 55: Sensorized Prosthetics

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we’ll hear from some of the key stakeholders - including Drs. Al Emondi and Dustin J. Tyler - related to the DARPA Hand Propriocept...

Episode 54: Climate Tipping Points

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, we’ll explore a new program with the goal of better identifying and predicting sudden and catastro...

Episode 53: So, You Want to Become a DARPA Program Manager?

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, listeners will hear a “best hits” medley from program managers (PMs), who since 2016 have chro...

Episode 52: The Embedded Entrepreneurship Initiative

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, listeners will learn about an emerging component of DARPA’s institutional culture for delivering...

Episode 51: The Cybersecurity Sleuth

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Sergey Bratus, a program manager since 2018 in the agency’s Information Innovation Office, share...

Episode 50: The Photonicist

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Gordon Keeler, a program manager since 2017 in the agency’s Microsystems Technology Offi...

Episode 49: A Decade of Living Foundries

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast takes listeners on a tour of an audacious, decade-long project to merge biology and engineerin...

Episode 48: The Inner-Machine Therapist

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, John-Francis Mergen, a program manager since 2020 in the agency’s Information Innovation Off...

Episode 47: The Life Saver

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Tristan McClure-Begley, a program manager since 2017 in the agency’s Biological Technologies ...

Episode 46: The Jet Packer

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

  Voices from DARPA podcast, Alexander (Xander) Walan, a program manager since 2017 in the agency’s Tactical Technology Office, pegs the source of...

Episode 45: Ushering Microelectronics into Its Next Era

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices form DARPA podcast, listeners get a status report on DARPA’s ambitious and expansive Electronics Resurgence Initiative...

Episode 44: Sounds of Innovation 3

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Go into a science or engineering laboratory. Close your eyes. And listen. Welcome to our third Sounds of Innovation episode, an intermittent feature o...

Episode 43: The Sky Master

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

  Voices from DARPA podcast, Scott Wierzbanowski, a program manager since 2016 in the agency’s Tactical Technology Office, recounts how he came of...

Episode 42: The Infrared Visionary

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Whitney Mason, a program manager since 2017 in the agency’s Microsystems Technology Office, e...

Episode 41: The AI Tutor

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Bruce Draper, a program manager since 2019 in the agency’s Information Innovation Office, expl...

Episode 40: Sounds of Innovation 2

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Sounds of Innovation, an intermittent feature of our Voices from DARPA podcast. Rather than hearing the voices of program managers,...

Episode 39: The What-if Chemist

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Seth Cohen, a program manager since 2019 in the agency’s Biological Technologies Office, takes...

Episode 38: The Oceanic Defender

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, John Waterston, a program manager since 2017 in the agency’s Strategic Technology Office, lets ...

Episode 37: Sounds of Innovation 1

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  Welcome to Sounds of Innovation, a new intermittent feature of our Voices from DARPA podcast. Rather than hearing the voices of program managers, ...

Episode 36: The Hypersonic Materialist

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, William (Bill) Carter, a program manager since 2018 in the agency’s Defense Sciences Office, re...

Episode 35: Maxwell's Disciple

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Tom Rondeau, a program manager since 2016 — first in the agency’s Microsystems Technology Of...

Episode 34: The Orbital Optician

16 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Stacie Williams, a program manager since 2019 in the agency’s Tactical Technology Office, reve...

Episode 33: The Verification Virtuoso

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Matt Turek, a program manager since 2018 in the agency’s Information Innovation Office, discus...

Episode 32: The Opportunity Hunter

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Air Force Lt. Col. C. David Lewis, a program manager since 2018 in the agency’s Defense Scienc...

Episode 31: Science 2.0

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this thematic episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, three program managers discuss the possibility that emerging technologies in the arena ...

Episode 30: The Sensor Sorcerer

07 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Dr. John Burke, a program manager since 2017 in the agency’s Microsystems Technology Office (M...

Episode 29: The Light and Matter Maestro

23 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Dr. Michael Fiddy, a program manager since 2016 in the agency’s Defense Sciences Office (DSO),...

Episode 28: Swarm Commander

11 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Dr. Timothy Chung, a program manager since 2016 in the agency's Tactical Technology Office, delv...

Episode 27: Detecting Threats with Time to Act

21 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Mark Wrobel, a program manager since 2019 in the agency’s Defense Sciences Office (DSO), chron...

Episode 26: The Eclectic Biotechnician

14 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Eric Van Gieson, a program manager since 2017 in the agency’s Biological Technologies Office (...

Episode 25: New Molecular Tactics for Pandemic Times

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of Voices from DARPA, we turn again to Dr. Anne Fischer, a program manager since 2017 in the agency’s Defense Sciences Office (D...

Episode 24: Preventing Pandemics

30 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We find ourselves in pandemic times. The global population is under siege by an infectious virus new to humankind. It’s called Severe Acute Respirat...

Episode 23: Joe Spectrum

04 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of our Voices from DARPA podcast, Joseph Evans, a program manager since 2015 in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Str...

Episode 23: Joe Spectrum

04 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of our Voices from DARPA podcast, Joseph Evans, a program manager since 2015 in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's St...

Episode 22: The Chemquistador

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Anne Fischer, a program manager since 2017 in the agency’s Defense Sciences Office (DSO), recou...

Episode 22: The Chemquistador

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Anne Fischer, a program manager since 2017 in the agency’s Defense Sciences Office (DSO), reco...

Episode 21: Mr. Thousand Satellites

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Paul “Rusty” Thomas, a program manager since 2017 in the Agency’s Tactical Technology Offi...

Episode 21: Mr. Thousand Satellites

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Paul “Rusty” Thomas, a program manager since 2017 in the Agency’s Tactical Technology Offi...

Episode 20: The Genomineer

25 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Renee Wegrzyn, a program manager since 2016 in the Agency’s Biological Technologies Office (BTO...

Episode 20: The Genomineer

25 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Renee Wegrzyn, a program manager since 2016 in the Agency’s Biological Technologies Office (BT...

Episode 19: The AI Intermediary

09 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, David Gunning chronicles his three tours of duty as a DARPA program manager (PM), including his l...

Episode 19: The AI Intermediary

09 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, David Gunning chronicles his three tours of duty as a DARPA program manager (PM), including his ...

Episode 18: The Disease Slayer

20 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

    In this episode of Voices from DARPA, COL Matthew Hepburn, a program manager since 2013 with the Agency’s Biological Technologies Office (BTO...

Episode 18: The Disease Slayer

20 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

    In this episode of Voices from DARPA, COL Matthew Hepburn, a program manager since 2013 with the Agency’s Biological Technologies Office (...

Episode 17: Guardian of the Chips

02 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Voices from DARPA, electrical engineer Kerry Bernstein, a program manager since 2012 with the Defense Advanced Research Project Age...

Episode 17: Guardian of the Chips

02 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Voices from DARPA, electrical engineer Kerry Bernstein, a program manager since 2012 with the Defense Advanced Research Project Age...

Episode 16: The Spinmaster

05 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Voices from DARPA, physicist Rosa Alejandra “Ale” Lukaszew, a program manager who is just finishing her first year with the Age...

Episode 16: The Spinmaster

05 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Voices from DARPA, physicist Rosa Alejandra “Ale” Lukaszew, a program manager who is just finishing her first year with the Age...

Episode 15: The DARPAnthropologist

27 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Voices from DARPA, sociocultural anthropologist Adam Russell, a program manager with the Agency’s Defense Sciences Office (DSO), ...

Episode 14: The Mix-and-Matcher

08 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Voices from DARPA, Jim Galambos, a program manager with the Agency’s Strategic Technology Office (STO), talks about the opportuni...

Episode 13: The Squad Transformer

12 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Voices from DARPA, Maj. Christopher Orlowski, a program manager with extensive military experience and now at the end of his tenure...

Episode 12:The Neobiologist

15 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Voices from DARPA, synthetic biologist and program manager Justin Gallivan of the Agency’s Biological Technologies Office (BTO) s...

Episode 11: The Thin-Air Specialist

13 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Voices from DARPA, get inside the full-spectrum engineering head of Dr. Troy Olsson, a program manager since 2014 in the Agency’s...

Episode 10: The Social Simulator

21 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Voices from DARPA, get to know Dr. Jonathan Pfautz, a program manager since 2015 in DARPA's Information Innovation Office (I2O), wh...

Episode 9: The Datamancer

01 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Mr. Wade Shen of the Agency’s Information Innovation Office has made it his mission to improve how human beings and their computers put their respec...

Episode 8: The Uncertainty Wrangler

14 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of DARPA’s podcast series, Voices from DARPA, join program manager Fariba Fahroo of the Agency’s Defense Sciences Office as she di...

Episode 7: The Geolocator

14 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of DARPA’s podcast series, Voices from DARPA, join program manager Lin Haas of the Agency’s Strategic Technology Office as he shar...

Episode 6: The Insectophile

12 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of DARPA’s podcast series, Voices from DARPA, join program manager Blake Bextine of the Agency’s Biological Technologies Office...

Episode 5: The Mind Mixer

19 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of DARPA’s podcast series, Voices from DARPA, join program manager Paul Cohen of the Agency’s Information Innovation Office as he ...

Episode 4: The Terahertzian

01 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of DARPA’s podcast series, Voices from DARPA, join program manager Dev Palmer of the Agency’s Microsystems Technology Office as...

Episode 3: The Semiconductor Whisperer

31 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this third episode of DARPA’s podcast series, Voices from DARPA, join program manager Dan Green, as he discusses the Agency’s innovation-cataly...

Episode 2: Space Sentinel

12 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In the latest installment of DARPA’s new podcast series, Voices from DARPA, join program manager Lindsay Millard as she discusses the Agency’s sat...

Episode 1: Molecule Man

23 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this premiere episode of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's new podcast series, Voices from DARPA, program manager Tyler McQuade, who ...