Dr. Douglas Deason leads the Advanced Research Directorate at the Missile Defense Agency with responsibility for the SBIR/STTR Program, University and International Research programs and STEM.  In this role he executes the Agency’s vision for development of enhanced capabilities for the Ballistic Missile Defense System.  He has had a varied career having working for both small and large businesses, consulting firms, a research institution and the Department of Defense.
After a twenty year career in industry, he joined federal service in 1999 as part of the Advanced Technology Directorate for the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, eventually becoming its Deputy Director. He started a materials and manufacturing technology portfolio which at its zenith had over $50M in funding. Dr. Deason joined the Missile Defense Agency in 2006 as the Huntsville Lead for the Manufacturing and Producibility Directorate. In 2009, he assumed the role of SBIR/STTR Director, and in 2011 became the Director, Advanced Research managing a portfolio of over $100M..