Dr. Mari Maeda

Dr. Mari Maeda serves as a key procurement lead within the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), driving the acquisition of high-risk, high-reward research and development initiatives aligned with the agency’s mission to secure U.S. technological superiority. She manages complex contract vehicles supporting foundational innovations in physical sciences, engineering, and life sciences, with a focus on transformative technologies such as autonomous systems, bio-integrated platforms, and next-generation computing architectures. Her acquisitions are strategically designed to accelerate breakthroughs through agile, performance-based contracting methods, often engaging academic, industrial, and defense-sector partners in early-stage R&D environments. Dr. Maeda maintains sustained relationships with leading R&D contractors including AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH LLC, and ABBOTT LABORATORIES INC., reflecting a preference for technically sophisticated firms with proven capabilities in advanced materials, neurotechnology, and systems integration. Her procurement patterns emphasize deep technical collaboration, often involving non-traditional defense contractors and interdisciplinary research teams. These partnerships are typically structured under broad agency announcements or rapid prototyping authorities to enable responsive, mission-driven innovation cycles. Dr. Maeda’s portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects DARPA’s strategic emphasis on selecting the most technically capable performers regardless of socioeconomic status, prioritizing mission outcomes over regulatory set-asides. While small business participation is not mandated through set-aside mechanisms, her contracts frequently attract innovative small firms through open solicitations and SBIR/STTR pathways, demonstrating a commitment to capability over compliance. Her procurement focus is exclusively centered on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)—with acquisitions targeting advanced computing architectures, autonomous control systems, biohybrid interfaces, and novel materials for defense applications. She specializes in procuring cutting-edge scientific services, prototype development, and experimental systems integration, ensuring DARPA’s programs remain at the forefront of emerging technological frontiers.