With over 30 years of government service, Katharina (Katrina) McFarland is widely recognized as a leading subject matter expert on government procurement. She served as Chairman of the Board of Army Research and Development at the National Academies of Science, and currently serves as a Director on boards such as SAIC, Virgin Orbit, and Transphorm. She was previously the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition (2012 to 2017) as well as acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology) (2016-2017). She was president of the Defense Acquisition University from 2010 to 2012, and from 2006 to 2010 was the Director of Acquisition, Missile Defense Agency. She is an accredited materials, mechanical, civil and electronics engineer. She has received an honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of Cranfield (United Kingdom), the President Meritorious Executive Rank Award, the Secretary of Defense Medal of Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Department of the Navy Civilian Tester of the Year Award, and the Navy and the United States Marine Corps Commendation Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service. Ms. McFarland brings substantial experience with the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of the Army, and intelligence community procurement, with a focus on space applications, artificial intelligence, cyber, and IT technologies in defense acquisition, program management, logistics and technology.