Dr. Eliahu (Eli) H. Niewood, SC.D is the Director at the Department of the Air Force Integrated Capabilities Office, Arlington, Virginia. He leads the Integrated Capabilities Office in facilitating threat informed capability development and resource prioritization to deliver lethal warfighting solutions combining Air Force and Space Force equities. In this role, Dr. Niewood ensures sound application of technology to support integrated development. The ICO serves as an agent of the Secretary of the Air Force and the senior leaders of the Air Force and Space Force to ensure that optimized, cost-effective, integrated solutions to the highest priority operational needs are identified and prioritized into the department’s $89.7 billion modernization budget.
Previously, Dr. Niewood served as Vice President, Air and Space Forces, in MITRE’s National Security Sector. Dr. Niewood set strategy and priorities to ensure MITRE delivered technical capabilities to meet the Air Force and Space Force’s most critical mission objectives and priority efforts. These included needs in space warfighting, air operations, nuclear enterprise modernization, cyber operations and multi-domain operations.
He previously was Vice President, Cross-cutting and Intelligence, leading MITRE’s efforts to identify national security problems that require joint and multi-agency solutions and to shape MITRE’s and the nation’s response to those problems. He also led MITRE in applying systems engineering, technology expertise, and innovation to help the intelligence and federal law enforcement communities leverage cutting-edge technology for mission success, integrate across agencies, and operate effectively in a dynamic environment. He joined MITRE in 2017, bringing rich experience in systems analysis and tactical system technologies.
Previously, Dr. Niewood was a Technical Adviser to the Director of the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. He also served as head of the Engineering Division at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he oversaw mechanical, aerospace, and control systems engineers building space payloads and aircraft sensor systems. From 2011 to 2014, Dr. Niewood chaired the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, a Federal Advisory Committee of 50 national experts in science and technology fields. He was a member of the Defense Science Board Task Force on unexploded ordnance. He is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA and recipient of the Secretary of the Air Force Distinguished Service Award.
Niewood holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
1989 Master of Science, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
1993 Doctor of Science, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
2009 Certificate, Leadership for the 21st Century, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1993–August 2000, Member of the Technical Staff, Tactical Systems Division, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, Mass.
2. August 2000–July 2004, Assistant Group Leader, Tactical Systems Division, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, Mass.
3. July 2004–July 2008, Group Leader, Tactical Systems Division, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, Mass.
4. July 2008–July 2009, Assistant Division Head, Engineering Division, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, Mass.
5. June 2011–June 2014, Chair, Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. July 2009–February 2015, Division Head, Engineering Division, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lincoln, Mass.
7. February 2015–January 2017, Technical Advisor to the Director, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Washington, D.C.
8. February 2017–November 2017, Director, Special Capabilities, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, Mass.
9. October 2017–January 2020, Director, Cross-cutting Urgent Innovation Cell, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, Mass.
10. January 2020–July 2020, Vice President, Joint and Cross-Cutting Capabilities, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, Mass.
11. July 2020July 2022, Vice President, Intelligence and Cross-Cutting Capabilities, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, Mass.
12. July 2022–October 2024, Vice President, Air and Space Forces Center, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, Mass.
13. October 2024–present, Director, Integrated Capabilities Office, Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
(Current as of December 2025)