Melissa Choi has been named director of MIT Lincoln Laboratory, effective July 1. She succeeds Eric Evans, who is stepping down as deputy director of the lab on June 30 after 18 years.
Vice President for Research Ian Waitz, who shared the news in a letter to MIT faculty and staff today, noted Choi's 25 years of “exceptional technical and advisory leadership” at MIT and in the defense sector.
“Melissa has incredible technical breadth, as well as exceptional leadership and management skills, and has brought a compelling strategic vision for the Institute,” Waitz wrote. “She is a thoughtful and intuitive leader who prioritizes communication, collaboration, mentorship and professional development as the foundation of an organizational culture that advances a vision of laboratory-wide excellence in national service.”
Choi's appointment opens a new chapter in the history of Lincoln Institute, which works to keep the nation safe and secure. A federally funded research and development center operated by MIT for the Department of Defense, the Institute has provided the government with an independent perspective on critical science and technology issues of national concern for more than 70 years. Unique among national R&D labs, the lab specializes in the development of long-term systems and rapid demonstration of operational prototypes to protect and defend the nation against advanced threats. In addition to its role in developing technologies for national security, the Institute's integrated relationship with the MIT campus community enables impactful partnerships in basic research, education, and workforce development in important areas of science and technology.
“At a time of great global instability and rapidly evolving threats, Lincoln Laboratory’s mission has never been more vital to our nation,” said MIT President Sally Kornbluth. “It is also important that our laboratory apply cutting-edge, government-funded technologies to solve critical problems ranging from space exploration to climate change. With her depth and breadth of experience, keen vision, and forthright style, Melissa Choi has earned tremendous trust and respect in the Lincoln and MIT communities. As Eric Evans steps down, we could not ask for a better successor.”
Choi has served as Lincoln Laboratory’s Deputy Director since 2019, overseeing five of the laboratory’s nine technical directorates: Biotechnology and Human Systems, Homeland Defense and Air Traffic Control, Cybersecurity and Information Sciences, Communication Systems, and ISR and Tactical Systems. Deeply engaged with the needs of the broader defense community, Choi served on the Air Force Science Advisory Board for six years, where she served as Vice Chair, and was appointed to the DoD’s Threat Reduction Advisory Board. She is currently a member of the National Defense Science Board’s Standing Subcommittee on Threat Reduction.
Choi, who has dedicated her entire career to Lincoln Laboratory, says her long tenure reflects her dedication to the lab's work and the community.
“Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to meet highly innovative and motivated people with whom I can collaborate to solve important national security challenges,” says Choi. “Continuing my role as leader of such a strong, lab-wide team is one of the most exciting aspects of the job.”
Success through collaboration
Choi joined Lincoln Laboratory in 1999 as a technical staff member after earning her Ph.D. in applied mathematics. She learned the value of pooling expertise from researchers across the laboratory while leading research teams including the Systems and Analysis Group and the Active Optical Systems Group.
“Early in my career, I was able to move between a variety of projects, from radar systems to sensor networks. Since I was not an expert in the field at the time, I learned how to connect with different experts in the lab,” says Choi.
Choi maintained that mindset in every role he held at the institute, including as head of the Homeland Defense and Air Traffic Control Division, which he led from 2014 to 2019. In that role, she helped establish a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief group by bringing together diverse technical and human systems expertise. Among other accomplishments, the group provided assistance to FEMA and other emergency response agencies after the 2017 hurricane season brought unprecedented flooding and destruction across Texas, Florida, the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico.
“We were able to quickly prototype and deploy several technologies in the field to help with recovery efforts,” says Choi. “It was a remarkable example of how a national security focus can be applied to other important national issues.”
In addition to his technical and advisory accomplishments, Choi has made an impact at Lincoln Laboratory through his commitment to an inclusive workplace. In 2020, she co-led a study titled “Preventing Discrimination and Harassment and Promoting an Inclusive Culture at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.” This study was part of a long-standing commitment to supporting colleagues in the workplace through extensive mentoring and participation in employee resource groups.
“I felt a sense of belonging in the lab from the moment I got here, and I’ve felt supported by leaders, mentors, and advocates ever since. Improving that support system is very important to me,” said Choi, who will become the first woman to lead Lincoln Laboratory. says: “Everyone should feel like they belong and be able to succeed,” she said.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Choi helped the lab navigate the chaos of having to consider operations essential, and says it taught her a lot about how to navigate adversity.
“We always solve difficult problems in the lab, but being thrown into a problem we’ve never seen before was a learning experience,” says Choi. “We’ve seen the entire lab come together, from leadership to departments and divisions.”
These synergies also helped Choi form strategic partnerships within and outside of the lab to further its mission. Building on his knowledge of the Institute's capabilities and its history of developing impactful systems for NASA and NOAA, Choi recently led the establishment of the new Office of Civil Space Systems and Technologies.
“We were seeing this convergence between the Department of Defense and civilian space programs, like going to the moon, Mars and the lunar region. [between the earth and moon] In general, it has become a big focus across the country,” explains Choi. “It seemed like a good time to grow the NASA portfolio by bringing these two aspects together. “This gives us a great opportunity to collaborate centrally with MIT and connects with our other strategic directions.”
Building on success
Choi believes her trajectory through Lincoln Laboratory's technical ranks will help her now lead it.
“This experience allowed me to see what things are like at different levels in the lab,” says Choi. “I saw what worked and what didn’t, and learned different perspectives and leadership styles. While strong leaders are important, it's important to recognize that most of the work is done by technical, support, and administrative staff across departments, divisions, and offices. Remembering that you are an early employee helps you understand how challenging and exciting this work is and how important that contribution is to our mission.”
Choi also said he looks forward to expanding his lab's collaboration with MIT's main campus.
“There are so many areas where we have the opportunity to work together, from AI to climate to space,” Choi said. “There are also great models of progress that we can build on, like the Beaver Works Center or the Department of the Air Force-MIT Artificial Intelligence Accelerator program. Everyone here is very excited about that, and it’s going to be an absolute priority for me.”
Ultimately, Choi plans to lead Lincoln Laboratory using an approach that has proven successful throughout his career.
“I don’t believe I should be the smartest person in the room,” says Choi. “I rely on the smart people who work with me.” “I'm part of a team, and I work with the team to act as a leader. That's always been my style: I set a vision and goals, and I empower and support the people I work with to make decisions and build that strategy.”