Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Director Steven Walker is stepping down from his position and heading to industry.
Walker has led DARPA since November 2017, where he has focused on advancing initiatives such as artificial intelligence and hypersonic weapons. Before assuming his current position, he served as the agency’s acting director and deputy director. Walker also worked as the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for science, technology, and engineering and at the Air Force Research Laboratory.
DARPA did not announce where in industry Walker is going, but the agency said his resignation is effective Jan. 10.
DARPA Deputy Director Peter Highnam is expected to take over as acting director until a permanent replacement is named.
Walker’s is the latest in a series of Defense Department resignations. Last week, Jimmy Stewart, who was performing the duties of the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, announced his resignation. Air Force Undersecretary Matthew Donovan will take over for Stewart. Randall Schriver, the assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, also resigned last week.