Dr. Jessica M. Appler is the Director for Maintaining Technology Advantage in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology (S&T) Program Protection in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). Dr. Appler serves as the principal OUSD(R&E) executive for policy, guidance, education, analysis, and capabilities to balance the promotion and protection throughout the technology development lifecycle for critical and emerging technologies vital to maintaining DoD technology advantage and ensuring the unquestioned superiority of the American joint force. She oversees the DoD Joint Acquisition Protection and Exploitation Cell; the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Damage Assessment Management Office; S&T protection; international partnership engagement for technology protection on shared common interests; and integration of technical, intelligence, counterintelligence, security, and law enforcement information to proactively mitigate exploitation and unwanted technology transfer from the National Security Innovation Base.

Dr. Appler possesses a wealth of experience across the acquisition cycle. Previously, she served as an S&T Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In that role, Dr. Appler provided leadership for technology protection during the COVID-19 response; intelligence support for ASPR’s acquisitions and operational response; and analytic support for requirements, development, testing, acquisition, and deployment of medical countermeasures to address 21st century threats. Prior to her work at ASPR, she focused primarily on chemical and biological defense – providing test and evaluation oversight for Warfighter protection technologies within the Army and supporting advanced technology development for civilian applications at the Department of Homeland Security’s S&T Directorate.

During her career, Dr. Appler was awarded the HHS Secretary’s Award for Meritorious Service, ASPR Pinnacle Medal, ASPR Superior Contribution Medal, and Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service. She received a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Southern California, an M.A. in Defense and Strategic Studies from Naval War College, a Master of Science and Technology Intelligence from the National Intelligence University, and a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Harvard University.