TechNet Cyber 2026

Benjamin Fransen, Ph.D.
Chief, Observability Engineering Division
Defense Information Systems Agency


Benjamin R. Fransen, Ph.D., is the Chief of the Observability Engineering Division for the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Enterprise Engineering Directorate. In this role, Fransen optimizes DISA service delivery by continuously improving customer experiences through data-driven analytics. As a technologist, Fransen has served many roles, focusing on developing, securing, and sustaining applications, distributed systems, and networks. Fransen rejoined DISA from the United States Capitol Police where he was the Network Lead, supporting the engineering and service delivery of all network and network related technologies. Prior to the Capitol Police, Fransen worked at DISA as the lead engineer for Mobility during the standup of the Department of Defense mobility unclassified and classified capabilities. Fransen’s pursuit of new technologies and products has led to the production of several award-winning systems. As president of Beyond Robotics, Fransen led the development of award-winning perception systems for mobile robots, designed to detect and track people and objects as they move in the world. Additional work of note includes the development of a national level risk accounting system for the Department of Homeland Security that resulted in an award from the Undersecretary of Homeland Security and a special recognition award from Informs’ Decision Analysis Journal. Fransen is a graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a bachelor's degree in physics and earned his Ph.D. in computer science with a focus on computer vision from Pennsylvania State University. Prior to government service starting in 2010, Fransen supported the Department of Defense and intelligence community.

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