Travis DeMeester is a program manager with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Department of Defense’s premier organization for accelerating the adoption of commercial and dual-use technology to solve operational challenges at speed and scale. Based in Los Angeles, he specializes in leveraging autonomy, advanced manufacturing, and digital engineering technologies to solve strategic problems in national defense.

Travis has extensive experience advising corporate, academic, and public sector clients on new venture design, rapid prototyping, R&D partnerships, strategic marketing, and venture fundraising. He also mentors startup founders and participates in angel investment networks.

Previously, he served as an active-duty officer and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps, with over 500 combat flight hours. His career began as a systems engineer on the B-2 Stealth Bomber program and EO/IR targeting and countermeasures systems at Northrop Grumman. Travis holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan, a Systems Engineering Certification from CalTech, and an MS in Management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.