DARPA-style R&D
for human stakes.
I help serious teams turn AI, XR, games, and behavioral science into programs that can survive contact with classrooms, clinics, agencies, and families.
Navy Aerospace Experimental Psychologist. Former DARPA Program Officer. Presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Education. Three decades translating emerging technology into public benefit.
What I bring into the room
The work sits at the intersection of federal R&D, applied psychology, accessibility, AI policy, immersive media, serious games, and implementation. The value is not just knowing the technology. It is knowing how to move it through institutions.
Strategic Advisory
Long-term R&D strategy, portfolio architecture, governance, theory of change, and cross-sector partnership design.
AI, XR & Agents
Practical guidance on conversational agents, virtual humans, immersive learning, behavioral health tools, evaluation, and safety.
Speaking & Workshops
Executive sessions and keynotes on DARPA-style innovation, responsible AI, autism technology, serious games, and public-interest R&D.
Innovation is not invention. It is translation.
From lab prototype to deployed public benefit
For teams building difficult things in consequential domains.
Strategic advisory: clarify goals, design milestone-driven R&D portfolios, align partners, and create 6–12 month execution plans.
Project consulting: assess concepts and vendors, plan pilots and evaluations, build ethics and accessibility guardrails, and create procurement-friendly requirements.
Workshops: Heilmeier-style framing, rapid prototyping, AI governance, evidence standards, and responsible implementation.
Selected evidence
A few signals explain the work quickly: federal R&D, national policy, serious games, VR therapy, AI agents, and a personal commitment to inclusive design.
DARPA & ONR
Managed portfolios in psychological health, STEM education, VR therapy, pain control, virtual humans, adaptive learning, and serious games.
National Policy
Founded the Department of Education's first Office of STEM, coordinated 60+ programs, and helped define an ARPA-style model for education R&D.
Personal Mission
Autism advocacy is not decorative. It is the lens for inclusive design, family impact, independent living, and responsible technology deployment.
Featured Speaking & Media
Talks, panels & interviews
Featured talks and interviews
TechEquity AI Summit – AI Conversational Agents
Panel exploring how conversational AI is transforming service delivery across healthcare, education, government, and nonprofit sectors.
Watch Panel
AI Optimist Podcast with Skip Rizzo – AI, Autism, & EdTech
Exploring AI, autism and mental health, VR therapy, and how innovation scales through public service and partnerships.
Watch InterviewUnited Nations – AutismTech 2025
Policy and innovation strategies for inclusive tech in global autism and mental health and disability ecosystems.
Watch Panel
Games for Change: Strategic Partnerships for Social Good in Gaming
Moderating a panel on games for diabetes support and child motor therapy—how small teams spark big change.
Watch Panel
CAPT Russ and Murray Retirement Video
When you retire from the U.S. Navy after 22 years – including time at DARPA – you don't expect Sesame Street to make you the star of your own farewell sketch.
Watch VideoBuilding something ambitious?
Use the contact page for consulting, advising, board, workshop, or speaking inquiries. The strongest fit is work involving AI, XR, behavioral health, education, neurodiversity, games, or ARPA-style R&D.