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Ralph Sandfry

AOE Advisory Board
  • PhD, Aerospace Engineering, Virginia Tech
  • MS, Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)
  • MS, Strategic Studies, Air War College
  • BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Kansas

Dr. Ralph A. Sandfry is the Director, Advanced Capabilities for Lockheed Martin Government Affairs and works closely with DoD, Service and Agency stakeholders to promote the development and fielding of breakthrough capabilities enabled by hypersonics and directed energy.  He supports Lockheed Martin Business Areas to facilitate new business opportunities and deliver on commitments to meet customer needs.

Previously, Dr. Sandfry served as the Senior Manager of Global Research and Engagement. In this role, Dr. Sandfry fostered a global network of technology partnerships to develop and deliver breakthrough technologies and capabilities for Lockheed Martin customers including international and domestic research with universities, DoD laboratories, and small businesses.

Dr. Sandfry joined Lockheed Martin after 32 years of service in the Department of Defense (DoD) as an Air Force Officer and a DoD Civilian as the Chief of Staff of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).  In this role, he led DARPA staff in support of the Director to plan and execute the Agency’s $3.4 billion dollar annual technology portfolio and create pivotal early investments for revolutionary national security technologies enabling hypersonic weapons, enhanced cybersecurity, quantum computing, secure 5G networks, and pandemic prevention. 

As a career Air Force officer, Dr. Sandfry led an Air Staff Division in the Pentagon to develop and defend the annual $2.2 billion Air Force S&T program.  Earlier in his career he was an Associate Professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy Department of Astronautics.  He also served in a wide range of program management, systems engineering, and test leadership positions including roles with the Global Positioning System and Maverick Missile program offices.

Dr. Sandfry is an Associate Fellow of AIAA, and his awards include the DARPA Superior Public Service Award, Air Force Legion of Merit, the Outstanding Dissertation Award for Virginia Tech, AIAA Rocky Mountain Region Engineer of the Year, and the U.S. Air Force Academy Outstanding Educator Award.