Dr. Jaret C. Riddick
Director, Vehicle Technology Directorate, U.S. Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground
Jaret C. Riddick is the Director of the Vehicle Technology Directorate (VTD) of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD. As Director, he leads the establishment of the strategic vision and operationalization of new science to enable future Army manned and unmanned, ground and air vehicle technologies, envisioned for 2035 and beyond. He oversees a staff of approximately 120 employees with annual revenue of $40 million, managing and directing fundamental and early applied research efforts associated with autonomy, mobility, aeromechanics, propulsion, reliability, and vehicle component technology.
Prior to becoming VTD Director, Dr. Riddick served as acting Chief of the VTD Mechanics Division, where he supervised research efforts to reduce the logistics burden, as well as operation and maintenance costs, of future Army air and ground, manned and unmanned vehicle platforms. Prior to serving as Division Chief, he performed a detail assignment as Staff Specialist in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (OUSD(AT&L)), directly supporting the Deputy Director for Land Warfare and Munitions. As Staff Specialist, he was the primary coordinator of acquisition oversight for the Department of Defense tactical wheeled vehicle programs, including the $6B Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program. He was also designated as interim Unmanned Systems Coordinator for policy on autonomy, robotics, and unmanned systems technology. Prior to joining OUSD (AT&L), Dr. Riddick was detailed to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology (DASA(R&T)), where he served as the Deputy Director of the Air Systems Portfolio.
Dr. Riddick offers critical subject matter expertise for new science for sustainability of future Army vehicle platforms. He first joined the ARL Mechanics Division of VTD in 2002, at NASA-Langley Research Center. In 2012, he was promoted to lead of the Structural Integrity and Durability Team at APG, where he directed PhD-level researchers in establishing and maturing concepts for reliable, lightweight, adaptive vehicle platform technologies. His most recent research interests focus on additive manufacturing of multifunctional components to enable maintenance-free move and maneuver in support of the new Army Operating Concept for multi-domain battle.
Riddick holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University; a master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in mechanics of materials from North Carolina A&T State University; and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech. He has published over 50 refereed journal articles and conference papers; and delivered over 100 conference presentations and technical briefings. In 2017, he was awarded the Office of Secretary of Defense Award of Excellence.