Jennifer Ricklin is an entrepreneur, investor and former Department of Homeland Security Chief Scientist & Director of the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA), and former CTO for the Air Force Research Laboratory. In 2021, Kitware broadened its board to include two external directors, including Jennifer. Kitware identified Jennifer as an ideal external candidate to join the board as she brings a strong technical background and deep experience serving government, industry, and academia. She spent 22 years as a bench scientist at the Army Research Lab, and later served as a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program manager. She went on to hold multiple senior leadership positions in both the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.

In addition to her government experience, Jennifer has also held senior leadership positions in private companies and academic institutions such as Lockheed Martin, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, and Carnegie Mellon University. More recently, she has focused on private investment in emerging high-tech business and technology transition.

Jennifer holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University. She received her master’s degree in electrical engineering from the New Mexico State University and her bachelor’s degree in physics from the Sam Houston State University.

Professional Associations & Service

• Fellow, Optical Society of America, present

• Fellow, SPIE, present

• Senior member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), present

• Advisory Board Member, Pacific Northwest National Lab, Data-Model Convergence, 2018-2019

• Board member, Air Force Science Advisory Board, 2010-2011

• Board member, International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), 2006-2007