U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR
Mission Engineering and Integration Activity
A Different Approach
We Know You've Been Burned Before.
You’ve seen innovation shops come and go. If your first reaction to MEIA is skepticism, we get it.
Here is exactly how we are different—in specifics, not slogans.
The Bottom Line
Innovation Theater vs. A Real Pipeline
| The Question You're Asking | The Old Way (Innovation Theater) | The MEIA Way (A Real Pipeline) |
|---|---|---|
| What happens after I submit? | A generic acknowledgment, maybe. Then silence. | Specific, written feedback quickly. Guaranteed. |
| Who is evaluating my technology? | A program office that has never been in the field. | Technical experts plus warfighters who know the environment. |
| How long until a contract? | 6-18 months, if you're lucky. | A rapid target from submission to contract. |
| Do operators ever see it? | Maybe a general mentions them on stage. | Operators evaluate it hands-on in relevant conditions. |
| How do you measure success? | Events held, meetings attended, people counted. | Technologies on contract and capabilities in the field. Period. |
Our Guiding Principles
Our Commitments to You
Honest & Fast Feedback
Every submission gets a specific, written response rapidly. A clear "no" with an explanation is better than a "maybe" that goes nowhere.
WARFIGHTER-DRIVEN EVALUATION
No technology advances without operator input. Your solution will be evaluated by the people who would actually use it in the field.
A Path to Production
We don't just prototype. We evaluate your ability to manufacture at scale from day one, ensuring a clear path from contract to fielding.
Accountability
We measure ourselves by one metric: getting funded, combat-credible capabilities into the hands of warfighters. Everything else is just noise.
OUSW(R&E)
The Pentagon
Office of the Under Secretary of War,
Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E))
3030 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3030