FEATURED STORIES

Department of Defense Laboratories

The Department’s Laboratories engage in activities ranging from basic research through defense system acquisition support to direct operational support of deployed warfighters. These Laboratories are comprised of dozens of facilities across 22 states, and employs tens of thousands of scientists and engineers, both civilian and military, public employees and contractors.

The Department Laboratories execute a substantial fraction of the Department’s S&T accounts, particularly in budget activities 6.2 and 6.3. In addition, they conduct substantial amounts of reimbursable research and development (R&D) for DoD and Intelligence Community customer organizations.

FIND OUT MORE

20th Annual Engineers Week 2025

OUSD(R&E) is again joining the Washington Headquarters Services to co-sponsor the 20th annual Engineers Week Event in the Pentagon Auditorium, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 1:30–3pm. The event seeks to highlight the importance of engineering as a profession and acknowledge the dedication and contribution of DoD engineers to the national defense mission. This year’s theme is Design Your Future.

Mr. Thomas Simms, Principal Deputy Executive Director, Systems Engineering and Architecture (SE&A), OUSD(R&E), will serve as the event’s emcee. Mr. Elmer Roman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Integration, OUSD(R&E), will deliver welcome remarks on behalf of R&E.

FIND OUT MORE

DARPA demos will test novel tech for building future large structures in space

DARPA’s NOM4D program has shifted its final phase from lab testing to small-scale orbital demonstrations, leveraging advances from Caltech and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. These projects aim to overcome the constraints of rocket cargo fairings by enabling in-space construction of large, mass-efficient structures. Caltech, in partnership with Momentus Inc., will test robotic assembly of composite structures in low-Earth orbit in 2026, while the University of Illinois will demonstrate a novel carbon fiber polymerization technique aboard the ISS.

These efforts mark a crucial step toward building massive space-based structures, such as RF antennas and refueling stations, that could enhance national security and commercial space operations. DARPA envisions NOM4D paving the way for an in-space manufacturing ecosystem, supporting future endeavors in the cislunar region and beyond.

Taking quantum sensors out of the lab and into defense platforms

DARPA is launching the Robust Quantum Sensors (RoQS) program to develop quantum sensors that can withstand environmental disturbances such as vibrations and electromagnetic interference. While these sensors offer unparalleled precision in measuring magnetic fields, gravity, and motion, their fragility has hindered deployment on moving platforms. Instead of relying on bulky shielding or isolation methods, RoQS will focus on designing sensors that are inherently resistant to disruptions, ensuring they remain highly sensitive and operational outside controlled lab settings.

The program prioritizes early collaboration between sensor developers and defense platform manufacturers to streamline the transition from research to real-world deployment. By engineering new sensor architectures, compact arrays, and advanced atomic systems, RoQS aims to create technology that meets the Department of Defense's operational needs. Organizations interested in participating must submit abstracts by February 20, 2025, with full proposals due by March 31, 2025.