Robert McHenry

Robert McHenry serves as the Technical Point of Contact for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he provides critical technical oversight for high-risk, high-reward research and development initiatives. In this role, he collaborates closely with program managers and contracting teams to define technical requirements, evaluate proposal feasibility, and ensure alignment with DARPA’s mission of accelerating transformative military technologies. McHenry primarily supports acquisitions in advanced scientific innovation, particularly in physical and engineering sciences, guiding the procurement of cutting-edge solutions in autonomous systems, next-generation computing, and bio-integrated technologies. His involvement spans the full lifecycle of R&D contracts, from initial solicitation through technical evaluation and performance monitoring. McHenry maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of high-caliber contractors, including AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH LLC, and ABBOTT LABORATORIES INC., reflecting a preference for organizations with proven expertise in defense-critical innovation. These partnerships are typically established through competitive, performance-based solicitations requiring deep technical capability and agility. His engagement with vendors is characterized by rigorous technical scrutiny and a focus on rapid prototyping and demonstration, ensuring that awarded efforts deliver measurable advancements in national security technologies. McHenry’s procurement activity is exclusively non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects DARPA’s emphasis on selecting the most technically capable performers regardless of business size or socioeconomic status, prioritizing mission outcomes over socioeconomic preferences. While small businesses are not formally targeted, they are welcome to compete on equal footing, and several awardees in his portfolio have demonstrated exceptional innovation despite not being certified small businesses. His primary procurement focus is NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)—encompassing advanced materials, neurotechnologies, quantum systems, and microelectronics. McHenry’s technical expertise centers on enabling breakthroughs in defense-relevant science, ensuring that funded projects push the boundaries of current capabilities while maintaining rigorous technical accountability.