Mr. DiFrancisco is Senior Program Manager for Cyber and IT Research for the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation (VT-ARC) where he is responsible for building and leading teams of technical professionals and researchers to conduct tasks for customers.  He manages cost, schedule, and performance aspects of programs to ensure a high degree of customer satisfaction and program success.

Mr. DiFrancisco is an experienced Technology Executive and Engineering Manager with functional expertise in Cyber Technologies, IT Infrastructure Systems, Networking, Communication Systems, RF Design, and Satellite Communications.  He has demonstrated experience in planning, analysis, design, procurement and management of IT Infrastructure systems and networks for the Intelligence Community and DoD.  Mike is an expert at understanding operational mission needs and developing, evaluating and assessing alternative technology solutions to satisfy those needs within budget and schedule constraints.  He has significant expertise on both sides of the acquisition process:  supporting and advising government in RFP preparation and source selection; and leading business development, opportunity capture and proposal preparation to respond to solicitations. 

Prior to joining VT-ARC, Mr. DiFrancisco was a Principal in Booz Allen Hamilton’s Cyber Technology Center of Excellence focused on developing and managing Cyber Technology-related business with Intelligence Community customers.  Earlier in his 25-year Booz Allen career, Mike focused on network & communications systems support to DoD customers, serving as Program Manager and Lead Systems Engineer on several large programs.

Earlier in his career Mr. DiFrancisco was an RF design engineer at RCA Government Communications Systems where he designed circuits for a high-power solid state transmitter used in a satellite-based navigation system.  

As an undergraduate, Mr. DiFrancisco developed data acquisition programs for radiometric ionosphere research at the Pennsylvania State University’s Ionosphere Research Lab.

Mr. DiFrancisco received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Penn State in 1984 and a M.S. from George Washington University in 1991.

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