Upcoming Event: Center for Autonomy Seminar

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Advanced Research Concepts Initiative

James Ferlez & John Fischer, DARPA

Abstract

Biography

James Ferlez
Dr. James Ferlez joined DARPA in January 2024. Ferlez received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the Pennsylvania State University and his doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland College Park. He was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Irvine, in the Resilient Cyber-Physical Systems Lab. His graduate work considered novel mathematical modelling frameworks for cyber-physical systems, with a particular emphasis on formal verification. His postdoctoral research considered various aspects of assuring autonomous systems that contain learned neural network components.

LtCol John Fischer, USMC
LtCol John Fischer joined DARPA in August 2024. His primary specialty is as an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter pilot with over 15 years of Marine Corps service. He holds a Bachelor of Science in information technology and a minor in Chinese (Mandarin) with merit from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Master of Science in computer and information technology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in computer science from the Naval Postgraduate School. His dissertation research focused on leveraging Bayesian deep learning, active learning, and federated learning to enable remote sensing platforms to collaboratively learn in situ without access to human experts. LtCol Fischer’s professional experience includes over 1,700 flight hours in the AH-1W and AH-1Z, serving as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) instructor and instructor pilot at the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS-1), and managing the Marine Corps’ Forward Air Controller (Airborne) program.