Patricia McDaniel, Ph.D, is the latest Senior Technologist (ST) at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. A former program manager at the DoD’s Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO), McDaniel replaced August Fountain, Ph.D., as the Senior Research Scientist for Chemistry and joined Peter Emanuel, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist for Bioengineering as one of two STs assigned to the Center.

Senior Technologists perform and develop high-level research in chemical sciences, life sciences and physical science. They are Army senior leaders and hold protocol level equivalent to a one-star general. The Research and Technology (R&T) Directorate position is an Army asset that explores essential science to benefit the warfighter. The federal government’s most decorated scientists and engineers are appointed as STs. The role was created to capitalize on the research in their respective areas of expertise and relieve the individual of the managerial and supervisory responsibilities associated with a Senior Executive Service position, though the ST can supervise a team of individuals and provide oversight of research conducted.

The ST role is an extremely competitive position and reflects outstanding professional achievement, creativity and leadership. In fact, less than 600 individuals have received this honor in the Executive Branch since its inception in 1990.

In nearly 35 years, McDaniel has excelled in research, analytical science and management roles in the field of chemistry. According to McDaniel, “Every ST across the DoD brings a different skill set and I think the whole idea is to apply that expertise in a way that’s going to benefit the organization.” Her most recent role with the CTTSO sharpened her contract and proposal review skills and portfolio development. This role also exposed McDaniel to working collaboratively and mentoring a team of analysts. She served as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Program manager, spearheading more than 60 high-level projects. McDaniel also served as Science and Technology Fellow in National Defense and Global Security for the Executive Branch of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. There, she gained appreciation for the importance of providing policy makers with critical scientific information in a succinct and technically appropriate manner. She also served as a senior chemist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and held roles in other government and private agencies.

As a Senior Technologist, McDaniel is responsible for managing the Center’s fundamental exploratory science programs, including the In-House Laboratory Independent Research Program and the Surface Science Initiative. Another part of her role is to keep the organization leaning forward in a way that can be applied to defense issues. “My goal is to find new approaches to solving problems through interdisciplinary teams, new technology or new vehicles to collaborate with others.” Moving forward, McDaniel wants to initially focus on mapping innovation to identify areas of success and opportunities for growth to leverage how the Center’s current and past work can best impact the future.