Human Effectiveness Applied Research

Mission — Enterprise Transformational Appld Research source

This program element develops multidisciplinary applied research efforts to accelerate the technology pipeline of transformational capabilities by reducing risk and maturing the technology so it can transition in support of larger advanced technology development capability investments. These activities are selected to enable solutions to the DAFs highest priorities to include Operational Imperatives and Critical Technology Areas. The Explore effort engages traditional & nontraditional industry, government laboratories and academia through 12-24 month feasibility studies and demonstrations. The Seedlings for Disruptive Capabilities Program (SDCP) facilitates AFRL cross-disciplinary applied research to provide leap-ahead, high risk technology development. Modeling, simulation, and analyses activities will continue to explore transformational research analytic technologies to enable validated positions and provide a solid foundation with emphasis to predict future outcomes and technology needs, as well as looking for more seedlings to feed the transformational capability pipeline. Continue to advance future workforce development programs and broadening partnerships to deepen and expand the scientific and technology enterprise. Applied research efforts span a broad spectrum of activities, and established processes allow agility and flexibility to meet higher demand signals.

Mission — Bioeffects source

This project conducts applied research on the effects of human exposure to electromagnetic energy (direct current to radio frequency to optical, scalable directed energy weapons, and other novel weapons). The project conducts laboratory experiments to provide fundamental knowledge of mechanisms of interaction of directed energy with molecules, cells, tissues, organs, and whole organisms in support of military directed energy systems. This research addresses mechanisms of interactions through fundamental physical principles, biological responses, and physiological outcomes. Research focus areas include novel directed energy bioeffects and mechanisms and directed energy modeling, simulation, and analysis. This research enhances combat survivability and systems effectiveness through technologies that enable deployed forces to counter optical threats and exploit optical systems for offensive applications. In addition, basic biological investigations into the mechanisms associated with high peak power and high average power radio frequency exposure allow for the exploitation of directed energy systems for offensive capabilities while protecting the warfighter from adversarial use of radio frequency technologies. Novel directed energy bioeffects mechanisms research examines the physical, physiological, behavioral, and neural interactions of electromagnetic energy with tissues to understand dose-response effects as well as reveal the means to cause or prevent a specific effect. This work assures valid assessments of real-world concerns and manages the risks associated with technological surprise. The project includes laboratory experiments to understand the mechanistic and behavioral effects of novel weapon incidents to Airmen and Guardians and to understand the effects of protection strategies on Airman and Guardian performance. Directed energy modeling, simulation, and analysis research focuses on new software components that represent and optimize concepts of novel system employment from the Airman and Guardian standpoint. These components are matured for future transition and application for engagement-to-mission level simulations in which directed energy weapons are employed.

Mission — Human Effectiveness Applied Research source

This program conducts applied research in the area of airmen training, airmen performance sustainment, bioeffects, and understanding and shaping adversarial behavior, maturing technology and readying it for eventual integration into combat and combat support systems. The Learning and Operational Readiness project conducts research to increase the agility of training to operate aircraft, weapons, logistics, intelligence, and space systems while advancing learning and performance assessment science and practice. The Biosciences Performance project conducts research to discover, demonstrate, and transition capabilities which optimize and safe-guard Airman and Guardian physical and cognitive performance allowing for the maximum impact during combat and contingency operations. The Warfighter Interfaces and Teaming project conducts research to discover, develop, and transition advanced interface technology, decision aiding tools, and situationally-adaptive augmentation methods to seamlessly integrate Airmen and intelligent machines into maximally collaborative warfighting teams. The Bioeffects project conducts novel and operational directed energy bioeffects research, exposure effects analysis and develops national/international exposure standards for the Air Force to enable, sustain, and enhance Airman performance and protection during deployment of directed energy systems. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is focused on high-impact, multi-domain science & technology (S&T) solutions that drive innovation now while laying the groundwork for the Air and Space Force to win the future fight. AFRL effectively synchronizes the Department of the Air Force (DAF) S&T enterprise and workforce to align towards the most consequential DAF priorities and accelerate the delivery of game-changing S&T. This program element may include necessary expenses to support the operation and maintenance of facilities to manage, execute, and deliver science and technology capabilities. This program includes funding for the requisite DAF Science & Engineering (S&E) and mission enabling civilian workforce with the necessary technical competencies to develop, manage, and deliver science & technology capabilities. The use of program funds in this program element is in conjunction with the civilian pay expenses budgeted in the following program elements: 1206601SF, 0601102F, 0602020F, 0602102F, 0602203F, 0602204F, 0602298F, 0602336F, 0602602F, 0602605F, 0602788F, and 0603680F. In FY 2026, $64.637 million is budgeted in this program for 349 direct Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) civilians. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) utilizes 10 USC 4091, "Authorities for certain positions at science and technology reinvention laboratories” to manage the workforce strength, structure, positions, and compensation. The FY 2026 request was reduced by $0.427 million for Advisory and Assistance Services to promote efficiencies and advance the policies of the Administration in alignment with Executive Order 14222, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative.” The FY 2026 request was reduced by $6.733 million for civilian personnel to optimize the workforce in compliance with Executive Order 14210, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative.” This program is in Budget Activity 2, Applied Research because this budget activity includes studies, investigations, and non-system specific technology efforts directed toward general military needs with a view toward developing and evaluating the feasibility and practicality of proposed solutions and determining their parameters.

Mission — Warfighter Interfaces and Teaming source

This project conducts research to achieve warfighter decision superiority across air, space, and cyber domains through research on advanced human-machine interfaces, joint-cognitive systems decision-making, and distributed and collaborative teaming and communication enhancements. Research provides advanced warfighter Command and Control interface technology, team collaboration tools, intelligent decision aids, and agile communications management. Research is conducted in two focus areas: human-machine interactions, and distributed teaming and communication. Human-machine interactions focuses on achieving decision superiority by optimizing human engagement with increasingly complex, highly automated, and Artificial Intelligence-enabled combat and combat support systems. Distributed teaming and communication focuses on research technology and methods to enhance the formation, assessment, and performance of distributed teams of warfighters as well as human-machine teams executing combat. Human Machine Teaming technology is critical to optimally integrating Airmen and Guardians with the increasingly technological & networked battlespace to achieve and maintain resilient decision superiority and defeat adversaries. In FY 2025 this Project 625329 changed name from "Sensory Evaluation and Decision Science to "Warfighter Interfaces and Teaming".

Mission — Biosciences Performance source

This project conducts bioengineering and biotechnology research to optimize, safe-guard, and restore the performance of the multi-domain Airman in all environments. Research is focused in the areas of 1) Applied Cognitive Neurosciences: technologies to sustain, augment, and recover operator performance; 2) Biotechnology for Performance: research in systems biology, synthetic biology, and risk assessment; 3) Performance Sensing and Assessment: technologies to sense and forecast operator state based on physiological, molecular, and environmental signatures related to mission performance; and 4) Performance Impact of Flight: elucidate how air environments affect processes of life and the ability to maintain physiological equilibrium and develop countermeasures and technologies to sustain, enhance, and restore operator performance. In FY 2025 this Project 625328 changed its name from "Human Dynamics Evaluation" to "Biosciences Performance".

Mission — Learning and Operational Readiness source

This project enables warfighter decision superiority by advancing the science and technology of human multi-sensory perception, learning, information processing, and action. Research is conducted in two focus areas: learning and operational training, and digital models of cognition. Digital Models of Cognition focuses on holistic models that work at understanding and prediction of mission effectiveness to maximize training effectiveness as well as to make human cognitive models available for other modeling, simulation, and analysis. Learning and operational training improves learning and understanding by linking evolving technology with understanding of how warfighters assimilate information and abilities. This project looks to establish a persistent, global experimentation, test, and training ecosystem that supports personalized, proficiency-based readiness for warfighters in joint all-domain operations, including work that supports Air Education and Training Command's undergraduate pilot training programs, Air Combat Command's fighter community, Air Force (AF) combat casualty care and enroute medical operations, human-machine teams executing Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management tasks, the development of Multi-Capable Airmen for maintenance and operations support, and the growing needs of the Unit States Space Force for space domain and cislunar operations. Using digital modeling, advancements will take into account human perception, cognition, and action in system development, wargaming, and operational planning, to support the development of human digital twins that can be integrated into AF Modeling and Simulation capabilities for training, and prediction of cognitive load and fatigue for maximum endurance operations in support of Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command operational mission requirements.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (16)