Tabitha Kinchen

Director of Portfolio Operations at the Defense Innovation Unit

Washington DC-Baltimore Area

About

Tabitha Kinchen is a strategic operations and portfolio leader with over a decade of experience driving innovation, mission execution, and cross-functional collaboration across the national security and defense ecosystem. Currently serving as Director of Portfolio Operations, Tabitha leads initiatives focused on operational excellence, portfolio strategy, stakeholder engagement, and scalable growth across complex mission environments. Her leadership approach emphasizes accountability, team development, and aligning strategy to measurable outcomes. Prior to this role, Tabitha served in both government and private sector leadership positions spanning defense innovation, strategic intelligence, emerging technology adoption, and public sector client success. She previously held roles within the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), including Deputy Director of Energy and Senior Energy Analyst, where she supported the integration of dual-use technologies and helped advance initiatives focused on resilience, operational capability, and mission impact across the Department of Defense. In the private sector, Tabitha led public sector client success initiatives supporting federal, state, and local partners with tailored strategic intelligence solutions. Her experience operating across government and industry has shaped her ability to bridge mission needs with innovative, scalable solutions. Tabitha holds a Master of Science in Communication (Strategic and Interpersonal) from Purdue University, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a focus in Forensic Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Liberty University. Passionate about leadership, innovation, and continuous growth, Tabitha is committed to building high-performing teams and advancing work that strengthens national security and drives meaningful impact.

Experience

  • Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) (On-site)
    • Director of Portfolio Operations
      May 2026 - Present · 2 mos

    • Deputy Director of Energy
      Jul 2025 - May 2026 · 11 mos

  • Director of Client Success, North America Public Sector at Strider Technologies
    Jul 2024 - Jul 2025 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Strider is the leading strategic intelligence company empowering organizations to secure and advance their technology and innovation. Leveraging cutting-edge AI technology alongside proprietary methodologies, Strider transforms publicly available data into critical insights. This increased intelligence enables organizations to proactively address and respond to risks associated with state-sponsored intellectual property theft, targeted talent acquisition, and supply chain vulnerabilities.

  • Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) (Washington, District of Columbia, United States)
    • Senior Energy Portfolio Analyst
      Apr 2023 - Jul 2024 · 1 yr 4 mos

    • Management Analyst
      Oct 2018 - Apr 2023 · 4 yrs 7 mos

  • JAB Innovative Solutions, LLC (5 yrs 10 mos)
    • Defense Innovation Unit
      Oct 2018 - Jul 2024 · 5 yrs 10 mos

    • Management Analyst with the Defense Innovation Unit
      Oct 2019 - Apr 2023 · 3 yrs 7 mos

  • General Dynamics Information Technology (9 mos)
    • Security Administrator
      Feb 2018 - Oct 2018 · 9 mos

    • Security Administrator
      Feb 2018 - Oct 2018 · 9 mos