Previously, Dr. Deason served as the Director of Advanced Research for the Missile Defense Agency, with responsibility for the SBIR/STTR program, university research, international research, and the Rapid Innovation Program. Here, he was responsible for an average annual budget of $120-$150 million. In 2018, he was recognized with the Agency’s Distinguished Professional Award. Dr. Deason’s technical specialty is in advanced materials for highly challenging environments including rocket and missile aerostructures, propulsion systems, and hypersonics. He previously held technical and management positions with U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, United Technologies Corporation, Battelle, and others. He is a former small business owner and SBIR awardee. Dr. Deason has been a frequently requested speaker on missile materials, proposal writing, and Phase III opportunities and commercialization.
He holds an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida as well as a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.