Johns Hopkins APL Names Hoffmann as Research and Exploratory Development Mission Area Executive

Joan Hoffmann has been named mission area executive for Research and Exploratory Development at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland.

As mission area executive, Hoffmann will drive strategy and oversee execution of research programs seeking technology breakthroughs to benefit the missions of the Laboratory and its sponsors. She will lead multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers in tackling some of the nation’s most complex technical challenges in critical areas such as alternative computing paradigms, biological and chemical sciences, human and machine intelligence, robotics and autonomy, advanced materials, and physics and electronic devices.

Hoffmann said she will continue to build on the strong foundation established by her predecessor, Andrew Merkle — now head of the Research and Exploratory Development Department (REDD) — in advancing the mission area’s charge to explore novel ideas, develop transformative technologies and deliver impactful solutions to APL’s sponsors and partners.

“We are fortunate to have a leader who is both technical and strategy-focused stepping into this important role,” said Merkle. “Joan will drive innovation while fostering collaboration to ensure APL continues to shape the future of research and development. Her vision and expertise make her the ideal leader to advance the Laboratory’s legacy of creating transformative capabilities.”

Hoffmann has held numerous leadership roles since joining APL in 2007, including manager of the Alternative Computing Paradigms Program and supervisor of the Experimental and Computational Physics Group. In her most recent position as program area manager, she oversaw the strategic direction and execution of emerging research technologies in artificial intelligence, computing, neuroscience, robotics and autonomy. In previous roles, she directed a diverse research portfolio encompassing quantum computing, computational physics and advanced computing paradigms, while also spearheading the development of APL’s quantum information science team.

Along with her ability to build and guide cross-disciplinary teams and execute forward-thinking research strategies, Hoffmann has been lauded for her dedication to mentoring fellow scientists and engineers. Her technical contributions, which span areas ranging from nanoscale devices to quantum systems to computational physics, position her as a leader in both research innovation and organizational development.

Hoffmann holds a doctorate and a master's degree in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics from Swarthmore College.