Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering
News & Events
Updates from Across the R&E Enterprise
USW(R&E) Emil Michael Announces Six CTAs for the War Department
November 18, 2025
The Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (USW(R&E)), Emil Michael, unveiled six Critical Technology Areas (CTAs) that will define the future of American military superiority. These CTAs represent the cutting edge of research and engineering, designed to deliver immediate, tangible results to the warfighter and ensure the United States remains the most lethal fighting force in the world. From unleashing the full potential of artificial intelligence to scaling our hypersonic weapon arsenal, the Department is committed to delivering technologies that will shape the destiny of American military might for generations to come.
'DOD' Is Now 'DOW'
September 5, 2025
This week, the Defense Department had a name change.
"In a historic move today, President [Donald J.] Trump has signed an executive order changing our name to the Department of War," Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said during the department's latest Weekly Sitrep video.
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Gold Standard Science Implementation Plan
August 22, 2025
This report outlines how DoD is incorporating the tenets of Gold Standard Science across its scientific enterprise, including efforts in policy updates, training, evaluation, and technology integration.
VICEROY MAVEN Interns Recognized by DoW Leadership at the Pentagon
August 4, 2025
Washington, D.C. — The Department of War (DoW) Monday, August 4th, 2025, honored seven exceptional student interns from the VICEROY MAVEN internship program during an engagement held at the Pentagon. The event celebrated the students’ contributions to national security through operational support, research, and mission-driven learning at DoW host sites across the country.
DoW Adopts Standard for Human Readiness Levels
August 1, 2025
First created by NASA in the 1970s, the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) – which measures the progress of new technology from basic research to completion – was formalized in 1989. TRLs track both commercial and government product development and is common terminology in aerospace and defense.
Notice on Indirect Cost Rates for Assistance Awards to Institutions of Higher Education
June 18, 2025
Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael signed the attached memorandum on June 12, 2025, to deviate from negotiated indirect cost rates for assistance awards to institutions of higher education and to implement a 15% indirect cost rate cap for awards to such institutions.
OUSW R&E’s APFIT Program Boosts Small Business Innovation with Record Funding Level
June 17, 2025
ARLINGTON, VA – The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering’s Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program broke its funding record for small businesses in fiscal year 2025 with a four-fold increase in investments into projects that will accelerate technologies to warfighters.
OASW(MC) Sparks Game-Changing Tech Talks with Industry
June 11, 2025
On June 6, 2025, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (APL) buzzed with energy as over 270 defense industry trailblazers—think big names and scrappy tech startups—joined forces with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Mission Capabilities (OASW(MC)).
DoW Selects Winners of 2024-2025 Hypersonic Horizons Student Challenge for Innovative Spacecraft Concepts
June 05, 2025
Arlington, VA – The Department of War announced 14 high school and undergraduate student teams as winners of the second annual “Hypersonic Horizons High Speed Video Challenge” today. Designed to inspire the next generation of hypersonic technology experts, the 2024-2025 challenge tasked students with developing innovative solutions for space exploration and high-speed flight within thin atmospheres. The winning teams, representing schools across the country, will receive a total of $32,000.
Joint Reserve Directorate Team Leans on Experiences to Accelerate Innovation to Support Secretary Hegseth’s Priorities
May 20, 2025
The Joint Reserve Directorate hosted its 2025 Executive Session Meeting at the Pentagon in April to align capabilities and resources to best support the new Secretary of War priorities for the department as well as the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW R&E).
Advanced Metallics Production and Processing Center
April 10, 2025
Michigan Representative Haley Stevens issued the proclamation April 7 as LIFT celebrated the opening of its new Advanced Metallics Production, and Processing Center in Detroit.
DoW ManTech Invests in American Manufacturing Research and Development
March 31, 2025
DoW ManTech invests in American manufacturing research and development to equip our warfighters with the most cutting-edge capabilities available.
AI-Enabled Capabilities Requiring T&E
February 28, 2025
OUSW(R&E) Systems Engineering & Architecture (SE&A) is continuing to ensure the Department has a technically competent workforce that can transform technology into usable capabilities for the warfighter.
Collaborating with the Defense Acquisition University, SE&A has released another training course in support of its new defense acquisition credentials for professionals:
TST 0520 “AI-Enabled Capabilities Requiring T&E”
Through a set of courses and a capstone project or assessment, credentials offer in-depth specialty training in topic areas important to the Department (e.g., systems engineering, digital engineering, software engineering, and artificial intelligence). The supporting courses are made available to the workforce as they are developed. Once all courses for a credential are deployed, the credential itself will go live.
Check back as more courses and credentials are on the way as DoW continues to invest in modernized training and education for the workforce.
Click here to view courses and register.
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SD-24 DoW Value Engineering (VE) Guidebook
February 28, 2025
OUSW (R&E) recently issued SD-24 Value Engineering: A Guidebook of Best Practices and Tools, an update of a 2011 version. VE is a sound and effective business practice that can yield significant returns on investment not only for cost, but also for capability performance and schedule.
DoW Components use VE to analyze programs, systems, services, products, and more to ensure they accomplish essential functions at the lowest life-cycle cost consistent with the required performance, quality and safety. Components retain their VE savings for allocation to other internal priorities to achieve a better value for the money.
The recent update to DoI Instruction 4245.14, “DoW Value Engineering Program,” is intended to reinvigorate VE and, along with this guidance, facilitate an understanding of responsibilities for VE programs and how to enhance DoW processes and products. VE is integral to supporting DoW’s national security mission.
This guidebook equips Components with information needed to establish and maintain viable VE programs. It describes the basics of the VE methodology, the benefits of a strong DoW VE Program, and best practices for applying VE on government contracts.
Call for Nominations for the 2025 George F. Linsteadt Award
February 28, 2025
Call for Nominations for the 2025 Department of War George F. Linsteadt Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer Now Open through 5:00pm EDT on Monday, June 23, 2025! The award will be announced at the annual DoW Technology Transfer and Transition Workshop (T3W) in November 2025.
For more information: https://rt.cto.mil/rtl-labs/tech-transfer
For questions and to apply, please email: osd.pentagon.ousd-r-e.mbx.dod-dlo-t2@mail.mil
20th Annual Engineers Week 2025
February 14, 2025
Whether building a ship or a fighter jet, designing software for a weapon system, or developing the latest medical advancements, DoW engineers make a difference not only for the U.S. warfighter but also in the lives of nearly everyone.
In DoW, engineers have a special mission, charged with developing highly complex systems that are both effective and safe, to meet ever-changing demands for defense technology in a competitive global environment. Engineers work daily to envision, create, test, and improve these systems to support U.S. warfighters in the field. In fact, some of the most widely used commercial products today were originally developed for the purpose of defending our country, including duct tape, microwave ovens, and virtual reality headsets.
After DoW Award, Datlof Looks to Future of Military Medical Technology Transfer
January 30, 2025
FORT DETRICK, Md. – For 25 years, the Office of Medical Technology Transfer has worked with inventors, businesses and investors to commercialize and deliver dozens of innovative life-saving devices and medicines for the Warfighter and the public. The heart of MTT’s success is an award-winning process for systematically maturing and de-risking first-generation biomedical technologies called Assistive Technology Transfer, or AT2. For his contributions to developing and implementing AT2, Barry Datlof, MTT’s chief of business development and commercialization, recently received the 2024 Department of War George F. Linsteadt Technology Transfer Achievement Award from the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering.
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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