Melissa is an experienced and results-driven executive with a proven track record in building impactful collaborations between government, start-ups, industry, academia and international partners to advance mission-driven technology. She has over two decades of experience at the Department of Homeland Security combined with more than ten years working with the start-up ecosystem.  In her role as Managing Director for DHS’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program, she led public-private partnerships, translating end user needs and funding dual-use startup projects. Her expertise spans emerging tech, government procurement, project management, and solution engineering.