USD(R&E): Defense Research & Engineering Guide

The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the United States Department of Defense. Established under 10 U.S. Code § 133a, the office sets the strategic direction, policy frameworks, and budgetary priorities for defense science and technology. For academic investigators, sponsored research offices, and defense contractors, USD(R&E) represents the central authority governing research funding lines, foundational science programs, laboratory infrastructure, and research security compliance.

What it is and who runs it

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) exercises primary responsibility for maintaining the technological superiority of the armed forces. Congress formally reestablished the position in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328), dividing the legacy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) into USD(R&E) and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)), effective February 1, 2018.

Operating through the official portal at cto.mil, the USD(R&E) is appointed by the President with Senate confirmation. Under 10 U.S.C. § 133a, the appointee must possess significant background in science, technology, or engineering, and ranks directly behind the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for research and engineering matters. Department of Defense Directive 5137.02 charters the specific responsibilities of the office.

The office is organized into three principal divisions:

Science and Technology (S&T): Directs basic research (Budget Activity 6.1), applied research (6.2), and advanced technology development (6.3). Oversees university grants, laboratory infrastructure, STEM programs, and small business innovation programs like SBIR and STTR.
Critical Technologies: Manages modernization roadmaps in designated priority fields such as trusted microelectronics, quantum science, biotechnology, advanced materials, and hypersonics.
Mission Capabilities: Focuses on mission engineering, joint capability prototyping, operational experimentation, and rapid transition initiatives such as the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve.

USD(R&E) also exercises supervisory authority over key defense agencies and field activities, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), and the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC).

Eligibility

Eligibility for research funding and programmatic engagement under USD(R&E) depends on the specific funding mechanism, budget activity, and executing agency. As outlined in official Department of Defense solicitations and DoD Directive 5137.02, participating entities include:

Accredited Higher Education Institutions: Eligible for fundamental research grants administered by the Basic Research Office, including the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), and the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship.
Nonprofit Research Organizations: Eligible for basic, applied, and cooperative research programs, including biomedical partnerships facilitated through organizations like the Henry M. Jackson Foundation.
Commercial Contractors and Small Businesses: Eligible for applied development contracts, Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards, and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants.
Service Laboratories and FFRDCs: Eligible for direct internal allocations and cooperative research and development agreements.

Foreign institutions and foreign nationals face eligibility restrictions based on national security directives and export control statutes, including ITAR regulations.

What it funds or requires

OUSD(R&E) oversees research allocations across three primary Financial Management Regulation categories:

Basic Research (Budget Activity 6.1): Fundamental scientific investigation in physics, chemistry, materials science, mathematics, computer science, and biology without specific military hardware applications.
Applied Research (Budget Activity 6.2): Systematic studies to expand science and engineering knowledge toward specific military operational requirements.
Advanced Technology Development (Budget Activity 6.3): Development of subsystems and testable prototypes in realistic operational or simulated environments.

In exchange for funding, USD(R&E) enforces strict compliance mandates:

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI): Protection of sensitive unclassified technical data under 32 CFR Part 2002 and DFARS 252.204-7012.
Cybersecurity Standards: Implementation of NIST SP 800-171 controls and adherence to Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements.
Research Security: Disclosure of foreign funding, talent recruitment affiliations, and international collaborations under National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33).
Fundamental Research Exclusion: Protection of open scientific publication for 6.1 basic research under National Security Decision Directive 189 (NSDD-189), provided no restrictive publication clauses are accepted.

Application or compliance steps

Engaging with USD(R&E) research mechanisms requires navigating six systematic procedural phases:

Identify Solicitations: Review competitive Broad Agency Announcements on Grants.gov and SAM.gov issued by OUSD(R&E), DARPA, the Office of Naval Research, the Army Research Office, or the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
Submit a White Paper: Prepare an initial concept or white paper, such as a DARPA BAA white paper, to confirm program manager alignment before drafting a full proposal.
Maintain Institutional Registrations: Verify active registration in SAM.gov, an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and a valid Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code.
Conduct Export and Security Reviews: Screen proposed tasks against the United States Munitions List (USML) and Commerce Control List (CCL). Complete required conflict of commitment and foreign support disclosures.
Submit Technical and Cost Volumes: Prepare detailed statements of work, milestone deliverables, data management plans, and auditable budget justifications adhering to 2 CFR 200 Subpart E.
Establish Post-Award Compliance: Implement system security for technical deliverables, submit technical reports to DTIC, and report inventions through iEdison.

Typical timeline phases

Defense research awards under USD(R&E) follow four sequential phases rather than calendar dates:

Phase 1: Solicitation Release and Concept Scoping: Funding offices publish BAAs. Investigators submit white papers; program managers assess technical novelty and defense relevance over several weeks.
Phase 2: Full Proposal Submission and Merit Review: Invited applicants submit comprehensive technical narratives and cost proposals for scientific peer and operational evaluation.
Phase 3: Pre-Award Negotiation: Contracting officers verify indirect rates, review export classifications, and finalize terms for the grant, cooperative agreement, or contract.
Phase 4: Research Execution and Transition: Investigators conduct research against milestone schedules, submit annual progress reports, and transfer technical reports to DTIC.

Common mistakes

Investigators and research administrators often encounter common administrative pitfalls:

Accepting Restrictive Clauses in 6.1 Work: Permitting DFARS 252.204-7000 publication pre-approval clauses in basic research contracts, which voids the Fundamental Research Exclusion under NSDD-189.
Overlooking Export Controls: Assigning foreign national students to export-controlled technical tasks without appropriate deemed export licenses.
Delaying Cybersecurity Implementation: Postponing NIST SP 800-171 system assessments, causing award delays or non-compliance findings.
Bypassing Program Manager Coordination: Submitting formal proposals without prior concept vetting against program goals.
Incomplete Foreign Disclosure: Omitting foreign affiliations or outside compensation on federal biographical sketches.

Related programs

USD(R&E) coordinates with multiple defense science organizations. The table below outlines these entities and their primary research functions.

Organization / Office	Operational Level	Core Research Function	Primary Mechanism
OUSD(R&E) Basic Research Office	Departmental Policy	High-risk basic university research stewardship	MURI, DURIP, Vannevar Bush Fellowship
DARPA	Defense Agency	Radical innovation and breakthrough demonstrations	BAAs, Other Transactions (OTs)
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)	Field Activity	Commercial dual-use technology prototyping	Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs)
Service Research Offices (ONR, ARO, AFOSR)	Military Departments	Foundational and applied service-aligned research	Service BAAs, Research Grants
Test Resource Management Center (TRMC)	Field Activity	Test infrastructure and evaluation capability modernization	CTEIP Programs
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)	Field Activity	Central defense technical reporting repository	R&E Gateway Repository

Frequently Asked Questions

What does USD(R&E) stand for?

USD(R&E) stands for the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. The official serves as the Chief Technology Officer for the U.S. Department of Defense under 10 U.S. Code § 133a.

What is the difference between USD(R&E) and USD(A&S)?

USD(R&E) directs defense science, technology strategy, foundational research, and prototyping. USD(A&S) (Acquisition and Sustainment) oversees major procurement programs, contract administration, logistics, and weapons system maintenance.

How does USD(R&E) support university research?

USD(R&E) supports academic research through the Basic Research Office and military service research commands, funding initiatives such as MURI, DURIP, and the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship.

What compliance rules apply to USD(R&E) funded research?

Awardees must comply with ITAR and EAR export controls, NSPM-33 foreign disclosure rules, 32 CFR Part 2002 CUI protections, and NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity controls. University basic research (6.1) remains protected under the Fundamental Research Exclusion of NSDD-189 unless restricted terms are accepted.

Sources

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) — https://www.cto.mil/ (2026-11-07)
10 U.S. Code § 133a — Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/133a (2026-11-07)
Congressional Research Service — Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (CRS Report IF10834) — https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10834 (2026-11-07)
Department of Defense Directive 5137.02 — Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) — https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/513702p.pdf (2026-11-07)