The Senate on Feb. 28 confirmed the nomination of Aprille Joy Ericsson, a long-standing NASA aerospace engineer, to serve as an assistant secretary of defense (ASD) for science and technology at the Department of Defense’s (DoD) research office – a new position the Pentagon announced last summer.
In her new post, Ericsson will oversee a wide range of programs that focus on science and technology, critical technologies, and mission capabilities, including — Small Business Innovation Research Programs, Small Business Technology Transfer programs, and manufacturing technology programs.
During a confirmation hearing held by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this year, Ericsson pledged to reduce barriers to entry for small businesses.
“In this complex and rapidly evolving security environment, my vision aims to boost our technical advantages by shepherding our critical and emerging technologies, strengthening our industrial manufacturing base and protecting our intellectual property,” Ericsson said. She said she will aim to ensure “the work … is always aligned with the National Defense Strategy, and I will prioritize vital disruptive technologies like hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.”
Ericsson will report directly to Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu.
Last July, the DoD established three new assistant secretary of defense positions, along with eight deputy ASDs, in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to replace the role of deputy chief technology officer.
Ericsson is the first person nominated and confirmed for this new position. The DoD appointed several acting ASDs to fill the roles pending nominations by President Biden and confirmation by the Senate.
Ericsson was selected by President Biden for the defense role last September.
“The establishment of these roles within Research & Engineering better positions our team to execute upon our mission of preserving our nation’s technological edge, now and into the future,” said Shyu in a press release.
Before being nominated to the DoD post, Ericsson spent 27-plus years working at NASA.
Most recently, she served as the business lead at the space agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center Instrument Systems and Technology Division, where she drove the establishment of government, academia, and industry partnerships on research and development efforts. During her time at NASA, Ericsson also served as an instrument project manager and an attitude control systems analyst.
