Dr. Kimberly Spangler

Dr. Kimberly Yearick Spangler is the Executive Director of SERDP and ESTCP, in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy Resilience & Optimization. In this position, she leads the Department’s innovation investment for military installations. The programs focus on developing and demonstrating innovative, scalable technologies that enhance military readiness, improve warfighter capabilities, and strengthen defense infrastructure. Under her leadership, the programs prioritize common sense, cost-effective solutions that support operational effectiveness and reduce regulatory burdens at military installations.

Prior to her current position, Dr. Spangler served as the Program Manager for the Joint Munitions Program (JMP), under the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research & Engineering in partnership with the Department of Energy Nuclear Weapons Laboratories. She was responsible for leading the JMP in developing and exploring advanced munitions concepts and enabling technologies by preeminent scientists and engineers. The JMP has been widely regarded for its significant contributions to DoD’s weapons stockpile.

Dr. Spangler is a trained high explosives formulation chemist and has previously worked as a civilian at both the US Army DEVCOM Armaments Center and the US Army Research Laboratory. A recipient of the prestigious Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship, Dr. Spangler holds a B.S. degree in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech (summa cum laude) and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Georgetown University.