Dr. Andrew C. Merkle is APL’s mission area executive for Research and Exploratory Development. He drives the investment strategy for research programs seeking technology breakthroughs to benefit the missions of the Laboratory’s sponsors. He has expertise in impact biomechanics and human injury mitigation. Dr. Merkle is chair of the Systems Engineering program in the JHU Whiting School of Engineering’s Engineering for Professionals program. He has authored more than eighty publications on human injury biomechanics and warfighter protection.