Michele Calton, PhD

Michele A. Calton is a U.S. Air Force veteran, behavioral neuroscientist, and senior research leader with nearly 15 years of experience advancing defense, federal, and healthcare research initiatives. Her expertise spans organizational and leader development, military learning organizations, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) research, and large‑scale program evaluation. She brings deep experience managing multimillion‑dollar federal research portfolios and leading complex cross‑agency and international collaborations. At CPG, Dr. Calton serves as Director of Advanced Technologies & Emerging Capabilities, providing strategic insight, scientific rigor, and operational leadership to complex defense and federal research programs.  

Dr. Calton has contributed to enterprise‑level research and policy initiatives across the U.S. Department of Defense, NATO, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Her work includes leading peer review for international advisory committees, conducting Army‑wide learning organization research, and serving as a U.S. representative to NATO research task groups. Prior to joining CPG, she served as a GS‑14 Health Scientist Administrator at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and as a Senior Research Scientist at the U.S. Army Research Institute, where she received multiple federal performance awards, the Department of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, and the NATO Science and Technology Panel Excellence Award. She previously served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force as a Staff Sergeant, supervising personnel, managing high‑value assets, and training international partners. Dr. Calton earned her B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, with a specialization in Behavioral Neuroscience, from the University of Memphis.