Speakers

Carrie E. Bayer is a senior materials engineer and team lead with Strategic Analysis, Inc. (SA) in Arlington, VA, since its acquisition of Directed Technologies, Inc. (DTI) in 2011.  Prior to joining DTI in 2008, she served as a materials engineer in the Infrared and Electro-optical Technologies Branch of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division in Bethesda, MD.  As both a civilian and contractor, Ms. Bayer has provided subject matter expertise and aided program management for >$0.5 billion in research and development efforts at multiple Department of Defense organizations.  In total, she has over 20 years of professional engineering experience, including with major industry such as the United Technologies Corporation. 

Ms. Bayer joined the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) as a contractor in April 2019 and currently supports the Advanced Materials Critical Technology Area as an operations lead and senior technical advisor.  Before November 2023, Ms. Bayer was a program analyst in the Small Business Innovation Research/Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Office supporting the Rapid Innovation Fund and the OSD Transitions SBIR/STTR Technology Program transition initiatives.  She also assisted execution of multiple summer studies by the OUSD(R&E) Defense Science Board.  Prior to OUSD(R&E), Ms. Bayer worked as technical advisor to the Defense Sciences Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in a variety of materials science topics such as passive and reactive armor, metamaterials, additive manufacturing, etc.  She also helped lead research with the Naval Research Laboratory and transition a Future Naval Capability targeted at underwater corrosion and electromagnetics on submarines.

Ms. Bayer graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BSE in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan and then earned her MS in Materials Science and Engineering with distinction via an accelerated program, with focus on materials design, manufacturing, and alternative energy technology.  While at Michigan, she was a recipient of the Clarence A. Siebert Memorial Scholarship and Marian Sarah Parker Fellowship for academic success and her undergraduate materials science research.  Ms. Bayer also received a People, Prosperity, and Planet Award and grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and National Science Foundation for her materials design contributions to an interdisciplinary green building project.  Throughout her career, she has received multiple awards from SA for her service to clients and the company.  Outside work, Ms. Bayer actively participates in her alumni association, mentors students and young professionals, and serves as a long-time member on her condominium board.