McQuiston elected to chair NATO's innovation effort

Barbara McQuiston will chair the board of directors for NATO's new initiative to accelerate transatlantic cooperation on emerging technologies.

McQuiston, who currently serves as the deputy chief technology officer for the Defense Department’s science and technology portfolio, previously worked at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for almost a decade.

NATO announced the DIANA initiative in June 2021, which aims to “bring defense personnel together with the alliance’s best and brightest start-ups, scientific researchers, and technology companies to solve critical defense and security challenges with dual-use technological solutions,” according to the announcement.

Leveraging a venture capital fund called the NATO Innovation Fund, which will invest $1.1 billion over 15 years, the initiative will focus on nine technologies: artificial intelligence, data, quantum-enabled technologies, autonomy, biotechnology, hypersonics, novel materials and manufacturing, energy and propulsion, and space.

“This tremendous news means the NATO DIANA initiative will have steady, expert leadership with Barbara at the helm,” Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu said in a statement. “In this critical role, she will be well positioned to put her extensive knowledge and experience to work and help put the alliance’s innovation efforts on the right path for the future.”

The group will have main offices in North America and Europe, according to DOD.