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Dr. James A. Tegnelia
SMI Advisor

Dr. James A. Tegnelia is the director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), Fort Belvoir, Va. DTRA safeguards America’s interests from weapons of mass destruction by controlling and reducing the threat to the United States and its allies, and providing quality tools and services for the warfighter.

Prior to his selection to lead DTRA, Dr. Tegnelia was the vice president, Department of Defense Programs, Sandia National Laboratories. Dr. Tegnelia had been at Sandia since August 1998.

A native of Monessen, Pa., Dr. Tegnelia’s career began in the United States Army, serving from 1968 to 1971, including a one-year tour in Vietnam. From 1971 to 1976, Dr. Tegnelia worked for the U.S. Army Night Vision Laboratory in various positions progressing from supervisory research physicist to manager. His organization laid the engineering foundation for night vision devices deployed in Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. In 1976, he transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), serving as a program manager and office director, responsible for programs in smart weapons, radar sensors and stealth technology.

From 1982 to 1985, he served as the assistant undersecretary of defense and acting deputy undersecretary of defense in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, where he oversaw program manager activity on the JSTARS radar and ATACMS missile. In 1985, he became the deputy director and later acting director of DARPA.

In 1987, he joined the Martin Marietta Corporation, serving as the vice president of Engineering, and later as the vice president of Business Development, of the Electronics Group. In 1993, Dr. Tegnelia became the executive vice president and deputy director of Sandia National Laboratories. He became the vice president, Business Development, for the Energy and Environment Sector of Lockheed Martin Corporation in 1995, and later served as the president of Lockheed Martin Advanced Environmental Systems, Inc. from 1996 to 1998.

Dr. Tegnelia earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Georgetown University, a master’s degree in engineering from George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in physics from The Catholic University of America.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Civilian Meritorious Service Medal, and the Senior Executive Service Meritorious Service Award.

Dr. Tegnelia is a former member of the Executive Council and Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce (1994/1995); former member of the Board of Directors of the Anderson School of the University of New Mexico; and the 1996 campaign chairman for the United Way of Central New Mexico. Dr. Tegnelia also served as the chairman for the Greater Albuquerque U.S. Savings Bond Campaign in 1995 and the State of New Mexico chairman for the U.S. Savings Bond Campaign in 1996.

He has served as chair of the Army Science Board, a co-chair of the Sandia National Laboratories National Security Advisory Panel and a member of the Society of Sigma Xi. He was also on the Board of Advisors of George Washington University – School of Engineering. Dr. Tegnelia was a member of the Board of Directors for Sandia Science and Technology Park, the Technology Ventures Corporation and Laguna Industries, Inc.

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