Terp Engineer Honored with Intelligence and National Security Award

Sarah K. Adams ’17, a graduate of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, was announced a recipient of the 2026 Charlie Allen Achievement Awards by the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), which honors extraordinary early to mid-career professionals in the intelligence, national security, and homeland security communities.

“I’m honored to receive this recognition from INSA,” said Adams. “It is a direct reflection of the mentorship, collaboration, and trust I’ve received throughout my career, which have made it possible to pursue ambitious research with real impact.”

Adams, who received the Sidney D. Drell Science & Technology Award, is the program manager for Alternative Computing Paradigms at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, leading a pioneering portfolio in quantum science and trustworthy computing.

She is recognized for her leadership of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) supported POSTURES project, which achieved the first fully aerosol-jet-printed optical waveguides, a breakthrough that redefines how photonic systems are deployed for national security.

The alumna is also a dedicated mentor and collaborative leader who invests in the development of early-career scientists and fosters the interdisciplinary partnerships necessary to solve the nation's most complex defense challenges. She is among a cohort of government and industry professionals honored by an award program that is now running its 16th year.

"These honorees represent the strength and promise of the next generation of national security leaders,” said INSA President Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg. “They are mission-driven professionals of high integrity who lead by example, inspire their peers, and reflect the leadership and responsibility our mission demands. We look forward to celebrating them and sharing their stories.”

Published February 4, 2026