Diana S. Engelhard (She/Her)

Focus

I build, test and challenge autonomous systems in security-relevant environments — where resilience is not a feature but a requirement. Especially when sensing degrades, navigation drifts, and cyber-physical stress becomes real. My background spans automotive engineering, maritime autonomy and cyber security. I treat architecture and governance as one coherent design space: what we build, how it behaves, and what it does to institutions and people.

I move between technology, economics and security policy. Sovereignty is not a slogan. It is an engineering condition for Europe’s future — virtually and physically, in simulation and in harsh reality.

I mentor in MINT+ contexts and make complex systems legible — for technical teams, policy audiences and mixed rooms. Translation is part of the craft.

There is a creative life next to the technical one. I play flute and trombone (orchestra & choir). I draw. I write poetry. I perform on stage. Depth matters — in music as in engineering. I am also an SSI Diving Instructor. Water has its own discipline — as do resilient systems.

I do not sit in my work. I move through it. Labs, stages, policy rooms. Acrobatics instead of yoga. Juggling instead of tidy task lists. I tidiously push beyond limits — and that is how I keep balance.

Selected public references

• Table.Media — Top 100 European Security Leaders
• ORCID — Research profile
• ResearchGate — Research profile
• IEEE Xplore — Paper & citations
• BAKS — Protection of critical maritime infrastructure
• Tagesschau — Critical infrastructure context
• Unleash Future Boats — Leadership update
• Digital Female Leader Award — Finalist profile
• IHK Schleswig-Holstein — Standpunkt / profile
• BlackBoats — Dual-use maritime autonomy

Connect

Professional updates: LinkedIn
Research record: ORCID · ResearchGate
Personal impressions: Instagram
Bluesky: dianaengelhard.bsky.social
Spotify: Spotify
X/Twitter: @EngelhardDiana