Full Throttle: How the IC Accelerated R&D at the Indianapolis 500
For auto racing fans around the world, the Indianapolis 500 evokes images of cars whizzing around the historic track at speeds north of 230 miles per hour. This century-old event held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is known as the “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
What’s not known by many is the Indianapolis 500 has served as an important testing ground for America’s Intelligence Community and national security apparatus.
Purple Heart Recipient Continues Service at ODNI
“Despite being shot in the back, war was the best experience I’ve ever had.”
Those are the words of a 30-year-old man who has spent more than 10 percent of his life in a military hospital recovering from an armor piercing sniper round.
His name is Justin Griffin, a former Sergeant in the United States Army who is a Purple Heart recipient and a current employee at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
IARPA Pivots to Fight Coronavirus
Two research programs at the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency, commonly known as IARPA, are now undergoing evaluation to see if they may provide solutions to help counter the growing COVID-19 pandemic, IARPA director Catherine Marsh tells SIGNAL Magazine.
The Molecular Analyzer for Efficient Gas-phase Low-power INterrogation (MAEGLIN—pronounced Magellan) program has been developing sensors to detect harmful gaseous chemicals in the air. The goal is to detect weapons of mass destruction or chemical indicators of illicit activity, such as narcotics production. But now, the program is investigating how well its newly developed micro-gas chromatograph might work as a breath sensor to detect signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a life-threatening condition associated with COVID-19.
A Leader, Learner and ‘Technology All-Star’: La’Naia Jones, Acting IC CIO
Last month, Women of Color magazine selected La’Naia Jones, the Acting Chief Information Officer (CIO), as a national “2020 Technology All-Star” in recognition of her leadership and impact in the U.S. Intelligence Community. She joins a highly distinguished group of women leaders with diverse backgrounds—from academia, Fortune 500 companies, and other government agencies—who are being honored for their achievements, innovation, and inspiration in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.
IARPA Leader Creating Office Director Positions
Dr. Catherine Marsh, director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, was recently interviewed by SIGNAL magazine. In the interview, Dr Marsh indicated she is hiring personnel to fill several new office director positions. The new personnel will help recruit program managers, develop and guide programs, and strengthen relationships with the intelligence community, enhancing the transition of technologies from researchers to users.