Meghan Flannery Hayes

Ms. Meghan Flannery Hayes is a Deputy Director at The Pennsylvania State University, Applied Research Laboratory (ARL), serving as Head of the Communication, Information, and Navigation Office (CINO). The CINO office concentrates on the collection, analysis, processing, exploitation, transportation and visualization of signals, data and information, developing cyber electromagnetic advantages for warfighters and operators from seabed to space.

Since joining ARL in 2006, Ms. Hayes has held technical and leadership roles on multi-disciplinary projects spanning many of ARL’s core competencies, including materials and manufacturing technologies, hydrodynamic, hydro-acoustic and structural acoustic analysis, atmosphere and defense communications systems, and guidance, navigation and control of undersea systems, including simulation and modeling for design and performance prediction. Prior to joining ARL, Ms. Hayes working the in intelligence community.

Ms. Hayes also holds leadership roles in driving and implementing cultural and institutional change within ARL. As a co-founder of the Women’s Strategic Synergy Group (WSSG) at ARL, she led cross-laboratory efforts to expand employee benefits, promote retention and mentorship, conduct seminars and sessions related to mental health, support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and develop leadership training. Ms. Hayes is a proud member of the Amazing Women of the IC.

Ms. Hayes has received the Intelligence National Security Alliance Joan A. Dempsey Mentorship award (2021), the ARL Inclusion Excellence Award (2023), and ARL Director’s Special Recognition Award (2019). Ms. Hayes was named a 2022 INvolve Heroes Top 100 Women Future Leader (#20).

Ms. Hayes received her M.S. and B.S. in Chemical Engineering, both from Stanford University. Ms. Hayes is a certified Project Management Professional.