Defense Technology Analysis

Mission— Defense Support Teams

The Department's key expertise for reviewing and guiding research and engineering (R&E) programs resides in the (OUSD(R&E). The OUSD(R&E) staff augment their responsibilities through connections to technology experts in various fields throughout academia, industry, and government. This project provides engineering, scientific, and analytical support to the OUSD(R&E) in its responsibility for direction, overall quality, and content of the science and technology (S&T) program. This activity conducts assessments and analyses to ensure maximum utilization of research and development funds to accomplish the overall objectives of the S&T program. It ensures the technology being developed is affordable and minimizes system development risk. Funds are required for technical, analytical, management support, travel, and publications.

Mission— Defense Technology Analysis

This program supports the Department’s initiatives to rebuilding the military by rapidly fielding emerging technologies. This program provides mission support to the USD(R&E) covering a wide range of studies and analysis in support of the R&E program and its impacts on the Department's decision to fund RDT&E efforts. Such activities include: (1) identification and development of new technological opportunities; (2) insertion of new technologies into warfighting systems and operations; and (3) management and evaluation of the effectiveness of technology programs.

Mission— Homeland Defense Capability Development

The Homeland Defense Capability Development Initiatives project uniquely engages with the Services, Combatant Commands, and our federal partners on critical S&T initiatives to both develop emerging unmanned systems technology and countering small unmanned system threats to our military forces and installations across all domains. Work in this project explores and identifies critical technology needs across the domains of Air, Land, Sea and Space, and enables development of synergistic platforms and weapons systems S&T strategies to include unmanned and counter small unmanned systems technologies, directed energy, munitions, power and energy, and their applications to future force projection and protection capabilities as identified in the interim National Defense Strategy. Key technology applications complement the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering’s (OUSD(R&E)) modernization priorities: Fully Networked Command, Control, and Communications; Directed Energy; Cyber; Autonomy; and Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence.

Mission— Defense Science Study Group

(U) The objectives of the DSSG program are to: (1) identify emerging leaders of science and technology in both the traditional disciplines and in new or interdisciplinary fields related to defense needs; (2) introduce these individuals to the national security community and current defense issues and needs; (3) foster in them a long-term interest in defense issues and needs;(4) create a network of informed, talented, and involved alumni within key disciplines and research centers that are critical to national security; and (5) provide continuing opportunities for those who complete the program to bring their experience and talents to bear on issues and challenges confronting national security.

Mission— Laboratory Resource Management

The Laboratory Resource Management project provides funding for the Defense Laboratory Office within the USD(R&E). The Defense Laboratory Office mission is to craft policy and provide the oversight necessary to both preserve current, and develop future, DoD in-house laboratory capabilities such that they continue to generate mission-critical innovations that increase the U.S. military advantage and enhance U.S. national security. The Defense Laboratory Office advocates and supports the DoD laboratory system in three areas: (1) facilities and infrastructure; (2) personnel and quality of workforce; and (3) technology transfer. FY 2022 added the Central Lab Investment Program (CLIP). This effort seeks to address infrastructure gaps within the Department’s Laboratory community by establishing a dedicated funding stream for the DoD’s laboratories to address infrastructure issues, including facility planning, design, construction, sustainment repair, and/or modernization. The DoD Laboratory Enterprise consists of more than 60 laboratories with approximately 67,000 employees (approximately 50,000 of whom are scientists and engineers). Section 211 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2017 also transferred the management of the laboratory demonstration program at Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratories (STRLs) from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)). Section 218 of the NDAA for FY 2018 amended the authority by re-designating management to the USD(R&E).

Mission— Defense Technology Analysis

The Defense Technology Analysis (DTA) project funds engineering, scientific, and analytical support for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) and specifically the Officer of Deputy Chief Technology Office for Critical Technologies DCTO(CT). The DCTO(CT) supports the USD(R&E) by prioritizing the interim National Defense Strategy modernization lines of effort in order to maintain competitive advantage against adversaries. The efforts funded in this project directly support and are critical to developing and continuously updating research and technology development roadmaps as required by Section 217 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2021.

Mission— Tech Trans & Comm Partnership

Technology Transfer and Commercial Partnership’s (T2CP) mission is to provide policy, guidance and coordination of the DoD T2 Components’ programs which encompass more than 9,000 active public private partnerships with DoD laboratories. The T2 budget is used to implement the 15 USC 3702 and 3710, multiple 10 USC partnership authorities, and DoD Instructions 5535.08 and .11.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (7)