Laura J. Itle, Ph.D.
Acting Vice President and Director, Science, Systems and Sustainment Division
Laura Itle is the Acting Vice President and Director of the Science, Systems and Sustainment Division in the Systems and Analyses Center. She leads a staff of physical scientists, engineers and data scientists engaged in assessing cutting-edge scientific advancements and breakthrough technologies; developing innovative weapon system concepts; conducting analyses of alternatives, developmental testing, and system performance assessments; and performing mission- and force-level modeling and simulation and resource-to-readiness decision modeling.
Laura has been with IDA since 2005. As a Research Staff Member, she worked primarily in the areas of chemical-biological defense, chemical demilitarization, public health, continuity of government, all-hazards and resilience planning, and homeland security and technology development and policy. In 2021, she became an Assistant Director in IDA’s Operational Evaluation Division, and in 2024, became the Deputy Director of the newly formed Science, Systems and Sustainment Division.
For more than 15 years, she has led IDA’s analytical support of the SAFETY Act, a portion of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 that provides a series of risk, liability, and litigation management techniques for the providers and users of anti-terrorism technologies, including the National Football League, Major League Baseball, multiple global security firms, and small technology start-ups. Her current work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) focuses on security and anti-terrorism planning, practices, programs, and training, as well as emergency response protocols, for stadia/arenas and other critical infrastructure.
Laura holds a doctorate in chemical engineering with emphasis in Biomolecular Transport Dynamics from the Pennsylvania State University. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical and biochemical engineering from the University of Iowa. She earned a certificate in National Security Studies at Syracuse University.
Laura volunteers with the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps to put homeland security practices into operation at the local level.
Emily D. Heuring, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Emily Heuring joined IDA in 2004, initially supporting operational testing of chemical and biological defense systems for the Department of War. She has also provided evaluations of antiterrorist technologies for the Department of Homeland Security. Currently, she leads IDA’s analytic support to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for programming and budget reviews. Emily has a doctorate in biochemistry, cellular biology and molecular biology from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She received her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences at Butler University.
John S. Hong, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
John Hong leads a research team that informs the Office of the Secretary of Defense on early phase developmental testing of major defense programs. Additionally, he oversees a team supporting battle management systems for missile defense in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During his time at IDA, John has spearheaded research into a range of topics, including test and evaluation, integrated air and missile defense, hypersonics, air warfare, and defense modeling and simulation. He holds both a doctorate and a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Seoul National University. John is also a graduate of the Senior Executives in National and International Security program at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Jessica G. Swallow, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Jessica Swallow’s research focuses on materials science and engineering challenges for defense applications, including electrochemical energy storage and power generation, nanotechnology, and alternative fuel synthesis. She also led projects focused on risk of injury from intermediate force capabilities. Jessica received her doctorate in materials science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a minor concentration in statistical analysis and machine learning. Her thesis work focused on the chemomechanics of oxide materials for fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries and incorporated an emphasis on operando characterization of chemomechanical effects. Jessica received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the California Institute of Technology.
