Mr. Vaughn is the Chief of the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI). He is responsible for DCSA’s efforts to ensure persistent technology advantage. He leads a collaborative effort of federal, academic, and commercial industry research partners and is charged with evaluating emergent technologies and methods for transforming and future-proofing DCSA’s critical national security capabilities.
Prior to this assignment, Mr. Vaughn served as the Director of the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA). The NCCA is the federal government’s office of primary responsibility for overseeing federal polygraph programs, educating federal examiners, and conducting research and development activities. During his seven years in this assignment, he led the NCCA to accomplish sweeping efforts to modernize virtually every facet of its mission through aggressive digital transformation and workforce innovation strategies.
He began his civilian service as the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) Chief of Forensics and Biometrics Division within the Directorate for Science and Technology. He led several technical intelligence efforts in support of the nation’s highest priority intelligence requirements and during his tenure, his office was recognized with an unprecedented six national intelligence awards for its intelligence and national security contributions.
Prior to this, Mr. Vaughn served honorably as a mustang officer in the Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Special Operations communities. This included three combat tours in Iraq with Joint Special Operations Task Force units and his final tour, commanding the Combined Explosive-device Exploitation Cell – Afghanistan. During this tour, he led a multinational effort to counter the devastating and deadly effects of Improvised Explosive Devices in the Afghanistan Theater and target the terrorist cells that employed them. During his twenty-plus years of military service, he received numerous combat and meritorious awards including the Bronze Star with "V" (2 awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, among many others.
He holds a baccalaureate degree in Emergency and Disaster Management and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. His wife, Lu, is a very talented oncology nurse and together, they successfully raised five children.