Dr. Varshneya joined DARPA in 2006, as Program Manager-Advisor Strategic Technology Office (STO), and in 2010, Dr. Varshneya joined the Adaptive Execution Office. His key interest areas are: Electro-Optical Sensors and Systems for Tactical Operations, Rapid Identifications of Threats in Urban Areas and Unified Communications in Battlefield Theater.
Most recently, Dr. Varshneya was with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), San Diego, CA where he was a Senior Program Manager responsible for the new business development of RF and Electro-optic Sensors and Systems. In this position, he was awarded a Crosswind Sensor system seedling program by DARPA.
Previously, Dr. Varshneya was employed as a Senior Research Scientist at Cubic Defense Applications, San Diego, CA from 1996 through 2005. At Cubic in 2004, he was awarded the multi-phase, multi-million, Dynamical Optical Tags (DOTs) program by DARPA. In Phase 1 of the DOTs program, he contributed to the development of the world's first Large Area Surface Normal Optical Modulator, a key component that enabled Free Space Retro-Optical (FSO) communications at ranges exceeding several kilometers with Goodput exceeding 100kbps. Prior to the award of DOTs, he led the development of the All optical Combat Identification system (O-CIDS) and the Precision Gunnery System (PGS). The PGS system is being fielded by the Spanish and Canadian Ministry of Defense (MOD). From 1996 through 2000, Dr. Varshneya contributed to the development of the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES 2000 training system) that has been fielded by the US Army.
In 1993, Dr. Varshneya founded Advanced Fiber Optic Systems that provided consulting services to Litton Guidance, Woodland Hills, CA, Tempo Research, San Diego, CA and SPIE, Bellingham, WA. From 1986 through 1993, Dr. Varshneya was employed as the Chief Scientist, Fiber Optic Technology, at Teledyne Ryan Electronics, San Diego, CA. At Teledyne, he contributed to the development of the Fly by Light System for the Rotary Wing aircraft. For this development work, he was awarded multi-million dollar programs by the US Army, Boeing and General Motors.
Dr. Varshneya received an M.Sc. in Solid State Physics from the Agra University, Agra, India and an MS and Ph.D. in Physics from the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. He has over fifteen US patents, and is an author/co-author of over several papers in the field of fiber optics, electro-optics sensor and systems and glass and ceramic materials. He is a member of SPIE.
