Robert Perez is a Program Manager in the Space Portfolio for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Office of the Secretary of Defense. He also the DIU liaison for the Space Development Agency, finding ways to foster stronger relationships within the organizations. Since joining DIU in 2024, he has collaborated with companies like Northrop-Grumman, Avalanche Energy, Standard Nuclear, BlackSky Technology, X-Bow Systems, Revolution Space, Pacific Defense, and Anello to deliver advanced technologies to the Warfighter, enhancing readiness for future challenges. These projects range from tactical imaging to nuclear fusion reactors and innovative propulsion systems. Before this role, he served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Nuclear Engineering at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Robert graduated from West Point in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and commissioned into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He later earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Columbus State University, GA, in 2013.

From 2010 to 2014, he served as a Combat Engineer in the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, where his platoon became the first Army unit to receive, test, and train with the Assault Breacher Vehicle, a system for clearing mines and obstacles. In 2015, he became Chief Engineer of Operations at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, training international military and police officers in search and rescue, demining, and engineering operations.

Between 2016 and 2018, Robert was the first Company Commander for the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course to be appointed Fort Benning's Senior Engineer Instructor. He oversaw the training and mentorship of thousands of Captains and junior officers in foundational engineering courses.

His passion for Army Space Operations led him to the Naval Postgraduate School in 2018, where he became the first Army Officer to complete the Astronautical Engineering Master’s Program. He earned dual master’s degrees in Aerospace and Astronautical Engineering, along with certifications in Space Fundamentals and Trajectory Optimization. His research included rotating detonation rocket engines, space debris, and hypersonic rockets, supporting Strategic Command’s efforts in contested environments.

From 2020 to 2024, Robert taught Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism at West Point and became its Course Director. He also founded the Army Rocketry & Engineering Sciences Program, focusing on launch vehicles, CubeSat development, and propellant engineering. The program gained national recognition in the NASA Student Launch Initiative, earning awards for Best Service Academy and AIAA Rookie of the Year.