WASHINGTON — Former director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Steven Walker has been named vice president and chief technology officer of Lockheed Martin Corp. effective Jan. 13.

Steven Walker. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Michael Pausic

Walker replaces Keoki Jackson, who will become Lockheed Martin’s chief engineer and vice president of engineering and program operations, the company said in a statement Jan. 9.

Walker announced his resignation Dec. 17 and his last day at DARPA is Jan. 10.

Walker was appointed director of the agency in November 2017 after serving as the deputy director from October 2012 to December 2016, and as acting director from January through October 2017.

“Steve Walker will act as our liaison to science and technology communities in the U.S. and internationally, as well as manage strategic relationships with our partners and stakeholders to ensure the maturation and deployment of advanced technologies,” Lockheed Martin said in a statement. “He will also oversee corporate independent research and development (IRAD) projects and coordinate certain business area IRAD investments.”

Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense...