Dr. Melissa Flagg is the founder and president of Flagg Consulting LLC, a strategic advisory firm that guides organizations through the emerging technology landscape in an era of great power competition. She draws on over two decades of experience at the intersection of science, technology, and national security policy. Dr. Flagg currently serves as a Fellow at the Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC) and as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House, where she contributes to research on technology and international affairs. In these roles, she helps institutions navigate innovation challenges and develop strategies informed by global trends and competition.

Previously, Dr. Flagg was the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research, overseeing the Department of Defense’s science and technology programs from basic research through advanced technology development. Appointed to this senior Pentagon role in 2015, she guided policy and provided oversight for DoD laboratories and S&T initiatives, ensuring a long-term strategic direction for technologies critical to U.S. military superiority. Her leadership in this period emphasized cross-disciplinary innovation and the transition of breakthrough research into capabilities for national defense.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Flagg held key positions at the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Department of State, where she led efforts in global technology awareness, technical intelligence, and international science & technology cooperation. She also served as Director of the Office of Technical Intelligence in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics), and worked with the Army Research Laboratory to advance cutting-edge research collaborations. In the philanthropic sector, she was a senior program officer at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, managing programs to recognize and support original research talent. This broad background – spanning government, academia, industry, and philanthropy – has given Dr. Flagg a unique perspective on how diverse stakeholders can work together to drive innovation.

Dr. Flagg actively contributes to shaping national science and technology strategy through advisory boards and public engagement. She has served on the National Academy of Sciences Air Force Studies Board and the Department of Commerce’s Emerging Technology Research Advisory Committee (ETRAC)​, providing guidance on U.S. airpower research and emerging tech policy. She is also on the Advisory Board of the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation and the Board of Directors of World Forest ID​. Known for her pragmatic leadership philosophy, Dr. Flagg advocates aligning research and innovation with real-world needs. In a 2022 Nature commentary, for example, she urged scientists and policymakers to “lead towards tangible benefits” – from better national security to solutions that improve lives – rather than chasing technology for its own sake.

Dr. Flagg’s insights regularly appear in the public sphere. She has been featured in interviews and panels discussing the future of U.S. innovation and defense technology. In a 2023 podcast with the Andrea Mitchell Center, she outlined how the global R&D landscape has shifted, arguing that the United States must adapt by building coalitions with industry and international partners and revamping its approach to innovation. Her writings in outlets like Issues in Science and Technology and The National Interest and her talks on platforms such as the Futurized and GovCon Different podcasts further highlight her role as a thought leader bridging the gap between emerging technologies and policy.

Dr. Melissa Flagg holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and a B.S. in Pharmacy, a foundation that launched her career at the nexus of science and policy. She maintains an active professional presence; you can learn more from her LinkedIn profile and through publications and media linked on the Flagg Consulting website. Her breadth of experience – from lab research and international diplomacy to Pentagon leadership – reflects a commitment to public service and innovation. She approaches challenges with authenticity and a focus on impact, embodying Syntheos’s mission to synthesize expertise and innovation for the greater good.

Dr. Flagg’s biography is punctuated by a series of high-impact contributions that continue to shape national science and tech policy. As a Fellow at AIRC, she engages with the Department of Defense and academic partners to drive acquisition innovation and research best practices. At Perry World House, her research fellowship involves examining how emerging technologies influence global power dynamics and advising on policy responses to great power competition. Her advisory work with the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation includes authoring thought-provoking essays like “Reopening the Endless Frontier” (2024), which challenges traditional assumptions about U.S. R&D funding and calls for new frameworks in a dramatically changed innovation ecosystem.

Through Flagg Consulting LLC, Dr. Flagg continues to advise public and private sector leaders on balancing openness and security in technology development. She often emphasizes the importance of breaking down silos between government, academia, and industry to create a more resilient and creative research environment. Whether speaking at forums on defense innovation or mentoring the next generation of tech policymakers, Dr. Flagg exudes a steady confidence in the power of knowledge-sharing and strategic foresight. Her ability to translate complex S&T issues into actionable policy insight has made her a sought-after voice on topics ranging from artificial intelligence governance to the future of the U.S. research enterprise.