Dr. Pierce is a Visiting Research Scientist at the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland at College Park. ARLIS is a University-Affiliated Research Center of the Department of Defense supporting the Intelligence Community. Pierce is also a mediaX Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Stanford University for 2019-2020 and serves on the advisory board for sparks & honey, a “cultural intelligence” firm based in New York City that works with Fortune 100 companies, startups, and others to help them visualize disruption scenarios and zone in on opportunities.
Prior to joining ARLIS, Dr. Pierce served on the leadership team of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), as Deputy Director and then Director of the Information Innovation Office (I2O) during 2014-2019. In these roles at DARPA, Pierce contributed to the development and implementation of the strategy for I2O driving advances in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cyber. Additional DARPA experience includes serving as the Deputy Director (2005- 2010) of the Strategic Technology Office (STO) with programs in space, cyber, strategic and tactical networks, counterunderground facilities, defense against weapons of mass destruction, small unit operations, maritime operations, and global ISR. Pierce also has held leadership roles in the aerospace and defense industry, which included Technical Director for Advanced Concepts and Technology at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (2012-2014), and Executive Director for the Electronics Division at Rockwell Scientific Company (now Teledyne Scientific) (2002-2005).
Pierce has published 40 technical articles and produced 28 U.S. Patents. Dr. Pierce holds a PhD and MS in Chemistry from the University of California at Riverside, and a BS in Chemistry and Mathematics (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of California at Riverside.