The Honorable Heidi Shyu is the current Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the top technology role for the U.S. Government.

She was previously a member of the Board of Trustees for Aerospace Corporation, the Chairman of the Board for Plasan North America, Member of the Board for Auterion, Catalyze Dallas, Levitate Capital, VK Integrated Systems, UCLA Dean’s Executive Board, and Advisory Board for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Defense & Aerospace Export Council. She is the CEO of Heidi Shyu Inc. and consults for over a dozen companies.

Previously, she was the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, ASA(ALT), from Sept. 2012 to Jan. 2016. Before, she served as the Acting ASA(ALT), from Jun. 2011 and the Principal Deputy starting Nov. 2010.

As the ASA(ALT), she served as the Army Acquisition Executive, the Senior Procurement Executive, the Science Advisor to the Secretary of the Army, and the Army’s Senior Research and Development official. She had principal responsibility for all Department of the Army matters relating to logistics.

She led the execution of the Army’s acquisition function and the acquisition management system. Her responsibilities included providing oversight for the life cycle management and sustainment of Army weapons systems and equipment from research and development through test and evaluation, acquisition, logistics, fielding, and disposition. She was responsible for appointing, managing, and evaluating Program Executive Officers and managing the Army Acquisition Corps and the Army Acquisition Workforce.

Before this position, she was the Vice President of Technology Strategy for Space & Airborne Systems (SAS) at Raytheon. She also held several senior leadership positions there, including Corporate VP of Technology & Research, VP & Technical Director of SAS, and VP of Unmanned & Reconnaissance Systems.

In addition to her extensive experience at Raytheon, she served as a Project Manager at Litton Industries and was the Principal Engineer for the Joint STARS Self Defense Study at Grumman. She began her engineering career at Hughes Aircraft Company.

Heidi holds a BSc. Degree in Mathematics from the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Canada, a Master of Science (MS) Degree in Mathematics from the University of Toronto, MS Degree in System Science (EE) from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the Engineer Degree from UCLA. She received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the UNB. She is also a graduate of the UCLA Executive Management Program.

A member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board from 2000 to 2010, she served as the Vice-Chairman from 2003 to 2005 and as Chairman from 2005 to 2008.

HON. Shyu is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, AIAA Fellow. She is the recipient of the DoD Medal for Distinguished Public Service, Dept. of the Army Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service, Dept of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service, General Brehon B. Somerville Medal of Excellence, the Knowlton Award from Military Intelligence Corp., National Infantry Assoc. Order of Saint Maurice, Army Aviation Assoc. The Knight of the Honorable Order of Saint Michael, UCLA Engineering Alumni Professional Achievement Award, Raytheon Hero Award, and University of Toronto Fellowship.