Eliahu (Eli) H. Niewood is vice president, intelligence programs and cross-cutting capabilities at MITRE. In this role, Niewood leads coordination and collaboration across MITRE’s intelligence and national security portfolios to shape major cross-functional and joint multi-agency initiatives that address significant national security challenges. He leads MITRE in applying systems engineering, technology expertise, and innovation to help the intelligence and federal law enforcement communities improve mission effectiveness, integrate across agencies, and drive greater operating efficiency.

Previously, Niewood served as one of the founding technical directors for the Cross-cutting Urgent Innovation Cell, where he revamped the DoD-funded National Security Engineering Center’s analysis capabilities in ways that will provide lasting benefits. He directed MITRE’s work in developing a new generation of command and control technology for the Department of Defense (DoD). He joined MITRE in 2017, bringing rich experience in systems analysis and tactical system technologies.

Previously, 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 2011-2014, Niewood served as chair of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, a Federal Advisory Committee of 50 national experts in science and technology fields. He previously served as a member of the Defense Science Board Task Force on unexploded ordnance.

 Niewood holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT and a certificate in Leadership for the 21^st Century from Harvard’s Kennedy School of