Sarah Pearson

Sarah Pearson is the Chief of Strategic Initiatives at Defense Innovation Unit. In this capacity, Sarah is leading our newest business unit focused on breaking down systemic barriers to commercial technology adoption for the War Department. Previously, Sarah was the Director of Commercial Engagement within DIU where she led  the strategic direction for DIU’s engagement with commercial companies and investors. Additionally, she  oversaw a team dedicated to maintaining awareness of commercial technologies and streamlining the process of integrating commercial technologies into military applications. She is passionate about accelerating the adoption of groundbreaking solutions that can save lives, improve operational efficiency, and maintain the United States' technological edge in defense.

With a background in both military service and private sector technology development, Sarah  brings a unique perspective to her position at DIU. She began her career as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy. After her military service, Sarah transitioned to the private sector where she worked in various roles across program management, product management, supply chain management, inside sales and consumer support at General Electric and Google.

Sarah holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Economics from the U.S. Naval Academy.  Through participating in various boards & non-profit organizations, Sarah is an advocate for tangible strategies and approaches to foster stronger collaboration between the tech industry and the military to address national security challenges in the 21st century.