Program Managers
IARPA Program Managers are experts in their fields of research who bring imagination and dedication to challenges facing the Intelligence Community (IC). The work of IARPA PMs directly and substantially impacts the IC's future capabilities and, more broadly, the field of science. This includes a broad spectrum of cutting-edge technology that ranges from machine learning and quantum computing to human cognition and linguistics.
Dr. Donald Hornback
Dr. Donald Hornback joined IARPA in September of 2021. In his current assignment as a Program Manager, Dr. Hornback focuses on areas of research that includes nuclear detection and artificial intelligence (AI) security. He is presently leading IARPA’s efforts on the GRAIL program that aims to develop new tritium detection capabilities. He also manages the TrojAI program that is studying detecting and mitigating Trojan attacks in AI systems.
Prior to joining IARPA, Dr. Hornback was a senior program manager from 2016-2021 in the Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN R&D). In this role he managed several different research portfolios related to nuclear detection science. Prior to his position in DOE, he was a research scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory from 2010-2016.
Dr. Hornback earned a Ph.D. in experimental nuclear physics from the University of Tennessee in 2008.
In his spare time, he likes to ride his bike--sometimes with no hands.
Dr. Donald Hornback
Dr. Donald Hornback joined IARPA in September of 2021. In his current assignment as a Program Manager, Dr. Hornback focuses on areas of research that includes nuclear detection and artificial intelligence (AI) security. He is presently leading IARPA’s efforts on the GRAIL program that aims to develop new tritium detection capabilities. He also mana...