Jessica Kalmanson PhD
Senior Director-Chief Technology Officer
Space Systems & Solutions Sector
Peraton
which will deliver solutions to empower customers and achieve mission success in an increasingly dynamic global environment. Dr. Kalmanson has nearly two decades of experience spanning the Intelligence Community (IC), Department of Defense (DoD), and Industry with a proven track record of driving innovation and measurable impacts to align cutting-edge technology with mission-critical objectives.
Dr. Kalmanson’s career is marked by technical excellence and leadership across multiple premier organizations. Prior to joining Peraton, Dr. Kalmanson spearheaded transformative growth at L3Harris, where she led the Special Communications Business Unit to achieve 30% year-over-year growth. Under her leadership, a lowmargin business was revitalized into a highly profitable growth engine, fueled by cultural and technical innovation and mentorship of emerging leaders. In her role within the CTO’s Office at L3Harris, Dr. Kalmanson drove enterprise-level technology
innovation, developed strategic roadmaps, and cultivated partnerships with DARPA, national labs, and startups. Additionally, she served as the Defensive Cyber Lead, shaping enterprise-wide policies and fostering collaboration.
While at Boeing, Dr. Kalmanson served as Chief Engineer for subsea autonomy and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) programs, delivering advanced autonomous underwater technologies and ensuring National Security Agency (NSA) policy alignment for cross-domain product lines. At Northrop Grumman, she designed critical thermal systems for space assets supporting IC and DoD missions. Her tenure at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory focused on enabling future naval capabilities, including directed energy and advanced sensing
enhancing treatment efficacy.
Dr. Kalmanson holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Physics from the University of Virginia, a Master of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland. She has authored over 19 peer-reviewed publications and presented at more than 15 national and international conferences. A sought-after speaker on technology, leadership, and mission alignment, Dr. Kalmanson is also a long-time mentor committed to fostering rising talent in the field.
