Heidi C. Perry

Heidi C. Perry is the chief technology officer at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where she is responsible for the development of the Laboratory's long-term technology strategy and the coordination of collaborative research with MIT. Prior to leading Lincoln Laboratory’s research investment portfolio and the Technology Office team, she served as an assistant head of the Air, Missile, and Maritime Defense Technology Division, where she focused on enhancing the division’s efforts to develop advanced naval undersea and surface fleet systems and technology.

Before joining the Laboratory, Perry worked for more than 20 years at Draper Laboratory in a number of senior leadership roles including director of internal research and development, director of algorithms and software, and director of systems engineering.  She has broad technical experience in addressing multidisciplinary systems challenges, ranging from national-level strategic studies to real-world at-sea or in-flight prototype testing.  She also served as technical lead in guidance, navigation, and control sensors and systems; autonomous systems for air, land, sea, and space; human-machine cognitive systems; mission-critical software; and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems.

Perry holds a BS degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University and an MS degree in computer engineering from National Technological University. She has also been affiliated for more than 15 years with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) as a member of the Naval Studies Board and study chair for the Naval Studies Board, Transportation Research Board, and Board on Army Research and Development. She has chaired numerous NASEM committees in the study of autonomous systems, decision systems, and emerging technologies to address strategic national security needs.