What is the name of the Imperial Director of Advanced Weapons Research in Rogue One?

The story behind the answer

The Empire’s ambitious Director of Advanced Weapons Research drives the Death Star’s superlaser program in Rogue One, flaunting a white cape, commanding Death Troopers, and strong-arming scientist Galen Erso to complete the weapon. His arc showcases the Empire’s ruthless bureaucracy and infighting—he battles for credit only to be undercut by higher-ranking rivals as Project Stardust nears completion. His oversight of kyber crystal harvesting and the Scarif data vault ties directly to the Rebellion’s first major victory.

Differentiate the distractors: Galen Erso is the coerced civilian scientist who secretly builds the fatal flaw and warns the Rebels. Wilhuff Tarkin is the Grand Moff who later seizes control of the Death Star and orders its test firings. Rae Sloane is a prominent Imperial from novels (Aftermath), not the film’s weapons director.