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Melinda K. Reed

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Enabling Technology

 

Ms. Melinda K. Reed is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Enabling Technology in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) – Critical Technologies. In this role she oversees Critical Technology Areas of Advanced Computing and Software, Human-Machine Interfaces, Integrated Network Systems-of-Systems, Microelectronics, Renewable Energy Generation and Storage, Space Technology, and Trusted Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy.

Formerly Ms. Reed was the Director for System Security in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology Program Protection (STPP), also within OUSD(R&E). Ms. Reed served as the principal R&E executive for policy, guidance, methods, and education,  to ensure defense systems are free of known vulnerabilities and resilient to exploitation. She oversaw DoD initiatives in secure cyber resilient engineering; program protection; hardware, software, and system assurance; supply chain risk management; design for exportability; anti-tamper; and controlled technical information. 

Prior to her work with STPP, Ms. Reed served as the Director, Program Protection in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Engineering, where she provided leadership for defense acquisition program protection and cybersecurity policy, guidance, and implementation, including incorporating system security engineering into acquisition and engineering processes, and defense acquisition workforce education and training. Ms. Reed also served as the Executive Secretary of the Defense Science Board Cyber Supply Chain Task Force. 

Before joining the Office of the Secretary of Defense Ms. Reed served as the Director for Systems Engineering in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) Chief Systems Engineer.  Ms. Reed also served as the Chief Engineer and Technical Warrant Holder for the Submarine Warfare Federated Tactical Systems and as an Acquisition Program Manager in the Program Executive Office, Submarines within the Naval Sea Systems Command.

Ms. Reed is a recipient of the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Group Achievement Award in 2020, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Award for Excellence in 2014, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Excellence Award in 2009 and the Defense Acquisition Executive Certificate of Achievement Award in 2001. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Oregon State University.