The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

Research & Engineering Enterprise

The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) serves as the primary advisor to Department of Defense (DOD) leadership on all matters pertaining to the Department's Research and Engineering (R&E) enterprise, technology development and transition, developmental prototyping, experimentation, and administration of testing ranges and activities. USD(R&E) has the lead responsibility within the Department for synchronizing Science & Technology (S&T) efforts across the DOD, the Joint Staff and the Services.

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Science & Technologies Office

Critical Technologies Office

Mission Capabilities Office

R&E Leadership

HON Emil Michael
Under Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering)

Joseph P. Morici
Performing the duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering)

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DARPA

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Hon. Emil Michael met with new Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Director Stephen Winchell yesterday to discuss the exciting innovation breakthroughs of the future.

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Honorable Emil Michael sworn in as Under Secretary of Defense (Research & Engineering)

Arlington, VA — Mr. Emil Michael was sworn in as the new Under Secretary of Defense (Research & Engineering) (USD(R&E)) on Tuesday, May 20, 2025

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INNOVATION PATHWAYS

OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS

TEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CENTER

Digital Manufacturing and Human Supervisor

Industrial Gateway for Business and Industry

The Innovation Pathways website serves as a gateway for industry, small businesses, students, universities, and other organizations within the Department itself to discover opportunities with DoD organizations.

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Office of Strategic Capital

Defense Science Board

Defense Innovation Board

Success, Progress, Solutions and Goal Photo

Developmental Test, Evaluation and Assessment

Our mission is to provide systems engineering and test & evaluation rigor to DoD Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF) program development pathways, Research and Engineering modernization priorities, and strategic defense investment decisions to ensure delivery of relevant and timely warfighting capabilities:

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DARPA

Missile Defense Agency

DoD STEM

Critical Technology Areas

The OUSD(R&E) works closely with the Military Services, Combatant Commands, industry, academia, and other stakeholders to ensure that the Department's science and technology strategy addresses the key national security challenges- from rising seas to a rising China- that the United States faces today and will face in the future.

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Conceptual Digital Teamwork and skills to include thoughtful Accounting, Advertising, Management

Systems Engineering and Architecture

The Office of Systems Engineering and Architecture (SE&A) develops and promotes innovative engineering principles and techniques to advance DoD engineering practice. SE&A develops policy, guidance, standards, and best practice resources; manages DoD Standards; facilitates engineering-related communities of practice; and develops the defense engineering workforce by refining competency models and curricula. SE&A applies engineering and risk management expertise to inform decisions and improve system-of-systems architectures to reduce integration risk in mission-enabling systems.

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R&E Enterprise Spotlight

DARPA

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is an independent research and development agency within the United States Department of Defense (DOD).

Created in response to the launch of Sputnik in 1957, DARPA stands as our nation’s commitment to never again face a strategic technical surprise.

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Missile Defense Agency

March 24, 2025, the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy successfully executed Flight Test Other-40 (FTX-40) off the coast of Hawaii. USS Pinckney (DDG 91) demonstrated the ability to detect, track and perform a simulated engagement of an advanced maneuvering hypersonic target using the SBT Inc. 3 capability embedded in the latest Aegis software baseline.

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Defense Innovation Board

The Defense Innovation Board (DIB) harnesses the experiences and ideas of its members to provide independent advice to the Secretary of Defense and other senior leaders on catalyzing innovation in DoD. Recruited specifically for their expertise outside the Department, DIB members are uniquely positioned to propose creative solutions to the structural, technological, and workforce challenges DoD faces - and provide U.S. warfighters and civilians with the solutions they need to achieve the mission.

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