Adam M. Willis, LtCol, MD, PhD, DARPA/BTO

Adam M. Willis, LtCol, MD, PhD, serves as a program manager within the Biological Technologies Office (BTO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he leads high-risk, high-reward research initiatives aimed at advancing bio-integrated systems and next-generation biotechnologies for national defense. His role bridges scientific innovation and acquisition strategy, overseeing the procurement of cutting-edge R&D services to accelerate breakthroughs in human-machine integration, neurotechnology, and synthetic biology. He manages competitive, time-sensitive solicitations under the HR0011 authority, typically issuing Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements to foster rapid prototyping and translational research. Willis maintains strategic partnerships with leading research-driven organizations including AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH LLC, and ABBOTT LABORATORIES INC., reflecting a preference for institutions with proven expertise in biomedical engineering, computational biology, and advanced diagnostics. His contracting approach emphasizes collaboration with entities capable of integrating multidisciplinary capabilities—combining academic rigor, industrial scalability, and defense-relevant innovation—to meet urgent operational needs. His procurement portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition, indicating a singular focus on technical merit and mission alignment over socioeconomic preferences. This reflects DARPA’s mandate to prioritize technological superiority and speed of delivery above traditional small business set-asides. The primary NAICS classification for his acquisitions is 541714—Research and Development in Biotechnology—underscoring his deep specialization in life sciences innovation. He procures services spanning molecular diagnostics, neural interfaces, bio-sensing platforms, and programmable biological systems, consistently targeting vendors with expertise in translational biotechnology, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics to advance DARPA’s strategic goals in bio-integrated defense technologies.