Katharina McFarland

Advisory Board

Katharina McFarland joined the SAIC Board in 2019. Prior to her onboarding, Ms. McFarland was a Director for Engility Holdings, Inc. from 2017 to 2019. In 2017, she retired from civil service as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. She was appointed to this position in 2012 by then President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. During her ASD tenure, she was also appointed Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, Logistics & Technology and Army Acquisition Executive. Prior to her 2012 ASD appointment, McFarland served as President of the Defense Acquisition University from November, 2010 to May, 2012. From May, 2006 to November, 2010, she was the Director of Acquisition, Missile Defense Agency. Ms. McFarland began her civil service career in 1986 at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps as a general engineer. Ms. McFarland received an Honorary Doctoral degree in Engineering from the University of Cranfield, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Queens University in Kingston, Canada, with accreditations in Materials, Electronics and Civil Engineering.