This month, Dr. Kimberly (Kim) Spangler began her new position as Director of SERDP and ESTCP following Dr. Herbert Nelson's retirement. Below, Dr. Spangler provides a brief introduction.

I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to lead these two extraordinary programs. SERDP and ESTCP have a long legacy of producing innovative research and technologies that address complex environmental and energy challenges, and I aim to continue paving the way towards a more sustainable and resilient Department of Defense.

I previously worked with SERDP and ESTCP while serving on the technical steering committee for the Weapons Systems and Platforms Program Area. In this position, I learned first-hand how to successfully structure and manage an impactful research, development, test, and evaluation program. I also always enjoyed the collegiality and dedication of my fellow technical steering committee members.

Before joining SERDP and ESTCP as the Director, I was the Program Manager of the Joint Department of Defense/Department of Energy Munitions Program (JMP) within the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (Research & Engineering). In that role, I led the JMP in developing and exploring advanced munitions concepts and enabling technologies by preeminent scientists and engineers at the Department of Energy Nuclear Weapons Laboratories. I also served as the Explosives Area Lead for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center APEX program.

Prior to my time at DEVCOM Armaments Center, I was an energetic materials formulation chemist at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL). I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at ARL, under the mentorships of Drs. Betsy Rice and Brian Roos, supporting modeling and simulation research with experimental high explosives work. I received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Virginia Tech (summa cum laude) and a doctoral degree in organic chemistry from Georgetown University.

I look forward to overseeing SERDP and ESTCP’s latest environmental and energy efforts, which include the strategic planning, technical competence, and transition facilitation in the areas of PFAS and AFFF; installation resilience and restoration; corrosion and repair technologies; munitions response; sustainable energetics; and emissions and waste reduction. Additionally, there are a few upcoming program developments, including an initiative to advance climate resilience, that I’m excited to share with you all very soon.

All the Best,

Kim