Professor Materna is the Deputy Director of the National Security Law Division in the Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Department of the Navy, a position in which she has served since 2018. In this capacity, she oversees the Division’s efforts to support the Fleets and advise the Judge Advocate General and senior Navy leaders on National Security Law, with a particular focus on legal issues related to navigation in the Arctic domain, robotic and autonomous systems, and military uses of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Prior to her work in the Navy, Professor Materna served as Special Advisor to an Assistant Secretary of the Army; Legislative Counsel to two U.S. Senators; Associate Director of Legislative Affairs at a trade association; and as a Foreign Policy and Defense Legislative Analyst for Bloomberg Government. Professor Materna earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from McGill University in Montréal, Canada, and her Juris Doctor, Certificate in International and Comparative Law, from Michigan State University College of Law. While in law school, she was a member of the Jessup International Law Moot Court team and served on the editorial board of the International Law Review.

Professor Materna is a member of the New York Bar and is published on several international legal and policy issues. She has presented widely before domestic and international audiences on law of the sea application in the Arctic region and autonomy in navigation and weapon systems. Professor Materna is a recipient of the Superior Civilian Service Medal from the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the Secretary of the Army, and the Richard R. Baxter Prize in military writing from the American Society of International Law.