The Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) is senior advisor to the Secretary of Defense on operational test and evaluation (OT&E) and live fire test and evaluation (LFT&E) in the Department of Defense (DoD). Ultimately, the office of DOT&E is responsible for ensuring testing is adequate to confirm operational effectiveness, suitability, survivability, and lethality of defense systems in combat use. The technologies we are testing today and will in the future require that we rethink classical approaches to T&E. As the National Defense Strategy notes, “We cannot expect success fighting tomorrow’s conflicts with yesterday’s weapons or equipment.” Similarly, we need to modernizing T&E assessment tools, infrastructure, and expertise. In this talk, I will discuss the critical role DOT&E plays in ensuring we provide systems that work to our warfighters. I will discussion how the DOT&E Science and Technology Strategic Plan is focusing on making advancements in current T&E CONOPS in the technology areas of Software, Cybersecurity, and Next-Generation capabilities. I will also discuss the need for an integrated T&E lifecycle and how digital transformation plays a key role in changing how we do business. Finally, transformation will require us to engage the T&E workforce in education and training on new methods. New partnerships with communities pioneering new methods (to including the SERC network in academia) will assist in our transformation.

Dr. Hobson was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2014 as a Deputy Director in the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She is currently the Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Policy and Emerging Technologies focused on advancing operational and live fire test and evaluation tools, methods and capabilities to meet the test and evaluation demands of the future.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Hobson supported the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, in two other capacities: first as a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses and then as an Aircraft Systems and Weapons Staff Specialist in the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. During these tenures, she provided guidance and direction on the survivability and lethality evaluation of major Department of Defense aircraft and weapons acquisition programs to include the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Air Force KC-46A aerial tanker, and the Navy P-8A multi-mission maritime aircraft.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Hobson worked as a Research Associate resident at the National Institute of Aerospace/NASA Langley Research Center. She defined and executed an interdisciplinary research that included the application of smart materials to actively control boundary layer flow demonstrating the ability to advance aerospace vehicle concepts and technologies. She authored articles, scientific publications and studies to explore the application of this research towards building more fuel efficient aircraft. Other duties included Aerospace Engineering Department lecturer and Airbus North America consultant.
Dr. Hobson earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Aerospace Engineering from A. James Clark School of Engineering at University of Maryland. Dr. Hobson is a recipient of the National Fellowship for Exceptional Researcher awarded by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), and two Secretary of Defense Medals for Meritorious Civilian Service.