Preston G Marshall

Preston G. Marshall serves as a Program Manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he leads high-risk, high-reward research initiatives aimed at accelerating breakthroughs in physical, engineering, and life sciences to maintain U.S. technological superiority. In this role, he is responsible for identifying emerging scientific capabilities, designing technical programs, and managing the full lifecycle of research and development acquisitions—from solicitation to contract award and oversight. His portfolio focuses on enabling transformative military technologies through advanced innovation, with an emphasis on autonomous systems, next-generation computing, bio-integrated platforms, and novel materials. Marshall’s acquisitions are primarily non-commercial, performance-based research contracts awarded through Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) and other competitive mechanisms aligned with DARPA’s mission of pioneering next-generation defense capabilities. Marshall maintains strategic partnerships with a select group of specialized contractors, including AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH LLC, PENNSYLVANIA & SOUTHERN RAILWAY LLC, and ABBOTT LABORATORIES INC. These entities are typically selected for their technical depth in advanced engineering, sensor development, computational modeling, and bio-integrated systems. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established research institutions and niche technology providers with proven expertise in cutting-edge domains, often engaging firms capable of rapid prototyping and interdisciplinary collaboration under tight developmental timelines. Marshall’s procurement activity is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects DARPA’s mission-driven emphasis on selecting the most technically capable performers regardless of socioeconomic status, prioritizing innovation velocity and technical excellence over socioeconomic preferences. His primary procurement focus is NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)—encompassing advanced materials, microelectronics, neurotechnologies, and autonomous system architectures. He consistently procures R&D services involving prototype development, computational simulation, sensor fusion, and systems integration, targeting organizations with deep expertise in defense-critical science and engineering domains.