Karen is the deputy director of AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force. She leads strategy and execution across a $1.3 billion portfolio which serves to expand the defense industrial base for advanced technologies, empower Airmen and Guardian talent, and drive faster technology transfer to operational capability.

Karen was previously a chief engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, ensuring technical excellence on the international stage. She directed programming and focused on strategic external partnerships to accelerate change and technical impact to the Air Force, which resulted in the creation of the Innovare Alliance. Innovare is an impact driven global community of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs converging on Air Force technology interests via specialized facilities and programming for technology transfer and open innovation.

Her passion and advocacy for women in STEM led to her participation in the Society of Women Engineers, where she is the FY25 Society president and past treasurer and director of Professional Excellence of the international organization. She has brought this passion to other organizations like the Girls Scouts and the RIT Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences National Council. Karen holds an Executive MBA from Indiana University Kelley School of Business, a master's degree in Systems Engineering from Cornell University and a BS in Software Engineering from RIT. She is currently pursuing an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Karen Roth participates in the Golisano College of Computing & Information Sciences National Council in her personal capacity and does not represent the Department of the Air Force in this capacity.