JihFen Lei
Dr. JihFen Lei worked for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering as the principal deputy and acting director of defense research and engineering for research and technology from January 2020 until June 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile. In that role, she was the “lead for maintaining technology advantage, establishing policy and implementing technology and program protection methodologies.” She also oversaw the [Strategic Technology] vision at the Department of Defense, partnering with federally-funded research centers and universities to “[strengthen] U.S. technological superiority.” Prior to joining the Department of Defense, Lei worked as vice president and general manager of Teledyne Judson.
In approximately August 2021, after leaving her government role, Dr. Lei joined Teledyne FLIR, LLC as the vice president and general manager of the firm’s surveillance business. This appointment came about three months after Teledyne Technologies officially acquired FLIR Systems, which provides radars and multi-sensor cameras used by the defense and security sector and law enforcement. While still in her government role, Lei wrote an op-ed for Defense News warning that the “U.S. military superiority is increasingly under threat” pushing for the Defense Department to increase its collaboration with industry partners and its laboratories.
In fiscal year 2020, prior to FLIR’s acquisition, FLIR Systems received over $223.1 million in Defense Department contracts.
While still in her government role, Lei wrote an op-ed for Defense News warning that the ‘U.S. military superiority is increasingly under threat’ pushing for the Defense Department to increase its collaboration with industry partners and its laboratories."
Employment History
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End date:
Principal Deputy and Acting Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Research and Technology,
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering,
Department of Defense
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Start date:
Vice President and General Manager of Surveillance Business,
Teledyne FLIR