Bridging the gap between Innovation and National Security

Karen Roth is a distinguished executive leader and engineer at the vanguard of national security innovation. With over two decades of experience within the U.S. Air Force ecosystem, she has spent her career bridging the critical gap between cutting-edge commercial technology and operational military capability.

As the former Deputy Director of AFWERX, Karen was instrumental in maturing the Department of the Air Force’s "dual-use" innovation pipeline, overseeing a massive portfolio of technology transitions. Her technical depth is anchored by her tenure as Chief Engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Information Directorate, where she provided strategic oversight for C4I and Cyber Science portfolios.

Beyond her technical contributions, Karen is a recognized global leader in STEM advocacy and organizational governance. As a Past President of the Society of Women Engineers she oversaw the strategic direction of a global professional organization, bringing a "fiduciary-first" mindset to complex nonprofit and technical leadership challenges.

Karen holds an Executive MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, an M.Eng. in Systems Engineering from Cornell University, and a B.S. in Software Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She specializes in advising organizations on Defense Innovation Strategy, Digital Engineering frameworks, and Strategic Ecosystem Development.