The Honorable Zachary J. Lemnios was sworn in as Director, Defense Research and Engineering on July 2, 2009. In this capacity, Mr. Lemnios serves as the Chief Technology Officer for the Department of Defense. Before assuming this position, Mr. Lemnios was the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Chief Technology Officer (CTO) responsible for coordinating technology strategy across the Laboratory and for establishing and growing strategic relationships outside of the Laboratory to support current and future Laboratory missions. He also served as Assistant Division Head of the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Solid State Division, as a member of the Laboratory's Senior Management Council and as the Co-Chair of the Laboratory's New Technology Initiative (NTI) Board.

Mr. Lemnios was the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) as well as the Deputy Director of the Information Processing Technology Office (IPTO). In these positions, he oversaw the development of future research thrusts, analyzed and evaluated program proposals and engagements with commercial, academic organizations and represented DARPA on various national committees. Mr. Lemnios' also served as a Senior Staff Member in the Solid State Division of MIT Lincoln Laboratory, as an Assistant Director and Program Manager at DARPA. Additionally, he held various positions within industry at Hughes Aircraft Company, Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Ford Microelectronics, Inc. that led to the development and demonstration of advanced microelectronic components.

Mr. Lemnios has served on numerous DoD, industry and academic committees. He received his BSEE from the University of Michigan and his MSEE from Washington University in St. Louis. Mr. Lemnios has authored over 40 papers, holds 4 patents in advanced GaAs device and MMIC technology and is a Senior Member of the IEEE.