Anthony Tether

Anthony J. Tether (born ca. 1941) served as Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) from June 18, 2001, until February 20, 2009. As Director, Dr. Tether was responsible for management of the Agency's projects for high-payoff, innovative research and development. Dr. Tether is notable for initiating the series of DARPA Grand Challenges which marked the resurgence of research in autonomous vehicles. As of September 8, 2009, Tether is a member of the SSCI Scientific Advisory Board. Scientific Systems Company, Inc. (SSCI) is a developer of technology solutions for defense and industrial suppliers. In 2009, Dr. Tether re-formed The Sequoia Group, which serves government and industrial clients. The Sequoia Group provides program management and strategy development services to government and industry. Dr. Tether is on several Advisory and Corporate Boards, and is a Distinguished Fellow with the Council on Competitiveness located in Washington DC. He is also on the fund management team for Ellington Healthcare Partners, which invests in start-up and early stage companies with unique therapeutic products and devices; other fund managers include former Governor Tommy Thompson.From 1996-2001, Dr. Tether held the position of CEO and President of The Sequoia Group, which he founded in 1996. From 1994-96, Dr. Tether served as CEO for Dynamics Technology Inc. From 1992-94, he was vice president at Science Applications International Corporation's (SAIC) Advanced Technology Sector, and then Vice President and General Manager for Range Systems at SAIC. Prior to this, he spent six years as Vice President for Technology and Advanced Development at Ford Aerospace, which was acquired by Loral Corporation during that period. He has held other positions in the Defense Department, serving as director of DARPA's Strategic Technology Office from 1982–86, and as Director National Intelligence in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 1978-82. He served as Vice Pr