University of Maryland, Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security, Executive Director

John Beieler, PhD named as executive director of the University of Maryland’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), one of 15 designated Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers in the U.S., and the only one dedicated to intelligence and national security.

Beieler comes to ARLIS from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where he has served as the director of Science and Technology since July 2019. He was later elevated to the role of assistant director of national intelligence in June 2023. In this position, he served as the science adviser to the director of national intelligence and provided strategic guidance, leading special efforts, including artificial intelligence and machine learning activities, projects related to high-performance computing and microelectronics, and innovations focused on the procurement of novel technologies. In this capacity, he also served as the intelligence community’s first chief AI officer.

Previously, Beieler has served as a program manager at the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, a research scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Human Language Technology Center of Excellence, and a data scientist within industry supporting Department of Defense R&D programs.

“We are extremely fortunate that John’s leadership and experience in the intelligence community is being brought to ARLIS,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “His expertise in artificial intelligence and deep knowledge of evolving national security technology needs will be critical assets in helping ARLIS reach new levels of achievement in addressing the nation’s most important research challenges.”

Beieler earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in political science at Penn State University, and B.A. at Louisiana State University.

The full press release announcing the appointment can be found here.

Rebecca Kennedy, Vijay Saraswat, and Gale Merseth led this search with Katie White and Elizabeth Arvanitis.