Mark Rosker

Mark Rosker serves as the MTO Program Manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he leads the planning, solicitation, and execution of high-risk, high-reward research and development contracts aligned with DARPA’s mission to enable transformative military technologies. His portfolio focuses on advanced scientific innovation in physical, engineering, and life sciences, overseeing the acquisition of cutting-edge solutions in autonomous systems, next-generation computing, bio-integrated technologies, and novel materials. Rosker manages full lifecycle procurements—from Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) to cost-reimbursement and fixed-price research contracts—ensuring alignment with national security imperatives and technical feasibility. He maintains strategic partnerships with leading R&D contractors including AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH LLC, PENNSYLVANIA & SOUTHERN RAILWAY LLC, and ABBOTT LABORATORIES INC., selecting vendors based on technical innovation, domain expertise, and proven capability in advanced prototyping. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established research institutions and specialized technology firms with deep experience in DARPA’s priority domains, often engaging them through competitive, merit-based solicitations rather than sole-source mechanisms. Rosker’s procurement activity is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under open competition, reflecting DARPA’s emphasis on technical excellence over socioeconomic categorization. While small business participation is not structurally mandated, he evaluates all offerors on technical merit, allowing qualified small firms to compete on an equal footing without preferential set-asides. His primary focus is NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where he procures advanced prototypes, sensor systems, neuromorphic computing architectures, bio-hybrid interfaces, and next-generation materials. His technical expertise spans interdisciplinary domains requiring rapid iteration, laboratory-to-field transition, and scalable innovation in support of U.S. defense technological superiority.