Anne Roberts-Smith

About Anne Roberts-Smith

Anne Roberts-Smith is a section supervisor and project manager for the Innovation and Collaboration program at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). She leads the Lab’s Janney Grants program, providing funds to encourage staff to participate in external thought leadership activities with the goal of nurturing a culture of discovery and embracing risk. She directs the Science of Innovation project and is the lead APL staff member for the Nexus Awards. She also serves as a moderator and facilitator for APL’s Space Exploration Sector in tabletop exercises (TTXs) for NASA, including recent TTXs focusing on planetary defense and the impacts of space weather.Prior to joining APL, Roberts-Smith was a consultant to the federal government, leveraging her 25 years of experience in program management and strategic analysis for complex technical, politically sensitive projects in defense, energy, homeland security, transportation, and public health in the United States and overseas. Her range of expertise includes training, emergency response exercises, stakeholder communication, and strategic policy implementation. She has facilitated the design and implementation of over 50 workshops, TTXs, focus groups, and surveys to engage key internal and external stakeholders and help organizational leadership drive innovation and fulfill their mission objectives. She has extensive experience leading and guiding diverse teams of technical and scientific professionals.Roberts-Smith holds a B.A. in English and Spanish with a minor in Latin American studies from Tufts University and a Master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in public policy at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with a focus on public management.With a keen ability to take complex technical data and transform it into easily understood, accessible language, Ms. Roberts-Smith has developed strong experience leading and guiding diverse teams of technical and scientific professionals.

Experience

1. Section Supervisor & Innovation Program Janney Grants Lead

   Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

   Mar 2019 — Present

   At the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) Anne plays a dual role as the Lead for Janney Grants for APL\'s Innovation Program and as a Section Supervisor within the IT Agile Information Solutions Group. APL provides meaningful contributions to critical challenges with systems engineering and integration, technology research and development, and analysis. APL\'s scientists, engineers, and analysts serve as trusted advisors and technical experts to the government, ensuring the reliability of complex technologies that safeguard the nation’s security and advance the frontiers of space. APL also maintains independent research and development programs that pioneer and explore emerging technologies and concepts to address future national priorities.

Education

• Tufts University

  Bachelor of Arts, English, Spanish and Latin American Studies

  1986 — 1990

• University of Maryland Baltimore County

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD student, Public Policy

• Columbia University

  Masters in Public Administration, Economic Development

  1994 — 1996

Skills

• Policy Analysis
• Training
• Vulnerability Assessment
• Analytical Skills
• Nuclear Waste Management
• Strategy
• Food Defense
• Outreach and Communication
• Management
• Analysis
• Proposal Writing
• Project Management
• Spanish-Speaking
• Strategic Planning
• Emergency Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Policy
• Exit Surveys
• International Relations
• Survey Development
• Government
• Public Policy
• Project Planning
• Emergency Response Exercises
• Program Management