Dr. Chris Fall

Dr. Chris Fall is the vice president for applied sciences at the MITRE Corporation with a broad portfolio that includes biotechnology and biosecurity. Most recently, Fall served as the Senate-confirmed director of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, which is the United States' largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, plays a very significant role in the Nation’s biotechnology and biomanufacturing efforts, and is responsible for 10 of the DOE national laboratories. Before leading the Office of Science, Fall served as a senior adviser to the undersecretary for energy and as acting director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy. Fall moved to DOE from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), where he served as acting chief scientist, lead for the research directorate, deputy director of research, director of the International Liaison Office, and the ONR innovation fellow. Fall also served for three years in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy with a variety of responsibilities, including as assistant director for defense programs and then as acting lead for the National Security and International Affairs Division. Fall came to government service from academia, where his research focus was neurobiology, systems biology, and bioengineering. Fall earned a PhD in neuroscience and a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.