Speakers

Dr. Whitney Mason serves as the Director of the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where she leads efforts to develop breakthrough microelectronics and imaging technologies that advance national security capabilities. Her research interests center on multifunction imaging sensors, with a focus on innovative device structures, optics, and electronics that enable capabilities beyond current state-of-the-art systems.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Mason served as Deputy Director of DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office (STO) from 2022 to 2023, and as a Program Manager in MTO from 2017 to 2022. Before joining DARPA, she was Director of the Science and Technology Division within the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate at the U.S. Army C5ISR Center, where she led research in advanced focal plane arrays, read-out circuits, optical materials, laser systems, and image processing.

Dr. Mason holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oklahoma and a B.S. in Physics from Georgetown University.