Student Spotlight: Ashley Olds
Meet Ashley Olds, an incoming PhD student in MS&E.
HOMETOWN
New York
WHERE I LIVED BEFORE STANFORD
Austin, TX
ALMA MATERS
United States Military Academy
Harvard University
DEGREES & MAJORS
BS, Computer Science
MPA
RESEARCH THEMES MY WORK REPRESENTS
Informing Policy Decisions
Academic and work experience
With over 16 years of military experience, I am passionate about ensuring that those volunteering to serve in the armed forces have the best technology available. Witnessing the high cost and arduous materiel acquisition processes within the government motivated me to research the causes and find possible solutions.
Impact I hope to have in my field and the world
I hope to help reduce the impediments to new industries entering the defense materiel ecosystem to improve the quality and reduce the cost of military technology.
Interests and hobbies
Spending time with my family, travel, and skiing.
Published September 22, 2025.