David Payne

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David Payne is the Director of the Autonomy Portfolio. In this role, David is focused on partnering across the Department and with industry to enable the warfighter by injecting autonomy technology across domains. Previously at DIU, he served as the Director of Replicator 2.

Prior to joining DIU, David was the Principal Systems Engineer for Mission and Stakeholder Engagement in NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation Division. Before that, David spent time as Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at a small satellite start-up, helping get the company’s first satellite, a hybrid radio-optical communication satellite, to orbit; at Boeing working on rocket thrust vector control systems, and in Management Consulting at Accenture. 

David earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University, a Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering degree from Boston University, and a Master of  Public Policy degree from Harvard.