Kristen Alexander shared on LinkedIn Thursday that she has been appointed director of assessments at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
The executive brings 20 years of proven expertise in Department of Defense acquisition, test and evaluation, experimentation, and prototyping. She is well-versed in assessing advanced technology programs and providing technical insights on technical maturity and programmatic risks.
Alexander’s Career Highlights
Alexander joined OUSD(R&E) in March 2024 as deputy director, leading a team composed of government civilians, systems engineering and technical assistance contractors, and personnel from university-affiliated research centers and federally funded research and development centers. She oversaw the experimentation and military utility assessments of emerging technologies.
The director previously served at the Office of the Secretary of Defense for over eight years. She was the chief learning and artificial intelligence officer and director of operational test and evaluation. In her dual role, Alexander spearheaded comprehensive testing efforts for AI-powered systems across academia, industry, and the test and evaluation enterprise. She also pioneered a continuous learning program for enhancing test and evaluation workforce readiness.
Alexander was also the technical adviser to the deputy director of operational test and evaluation, land and expeditionary warfare from 2015 to 2023.
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