Participating Labs by Discipline: Physics

The Information Directorate (RI) is the Air Force’s and nation’s premier research organization for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) and Cyber technologies. The directorate explores, prototypes, and demonstrates high-impact, affordable and game-changing technologies. These technologies transform data into information and subsequently knowledge for decision makers to command and control forces. This knowledge gives our air, space and cyberspace forces the competitive advantage needed to protect and defend the nation.

AFRL’s Munitions Directorate (RW) is responsible for developing superior weapons technologies that are effective and affordable for our warfighter. We are committed to providing the technologies that will enable our warfighters to win in all domains, and we are actively looking at new technologies to stay ahead in a rapidly advancing tech driven world. We value our partnerships with industry, academia, and government partners, as we continue to transition important technologies to the warfighter that help build a more lethal and ready Air Force and Space Force.

CAPE’s mission is to help the Department of Defense make hard choices. We do this by providing timely, insightful and unbiased analysis on resource allocation and cost estimation problems to deliver the optimum portfolio of military capabilities through the efficient and effective use of each taxpayer dollar. CAPE is DoD’s premier analysis organization, reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense. CAPE is analysis focused and uses the best available analytic tools and data developed by smart, motivated people from a diverse range of professionals with unique thoughts, perspectives and educational backgrounds. Our analysts are independent, impact oriented, and dedicated to contributing to the nation’s defense such as climate change, DoD’s nuclear arsenal, communications infrastructure, warfighter readiness, and cost estimates for future spending, such as projecting the cost of the next-gen bomber.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) provides cross-cutting solutions to enable the Department of Defense, the United States Government, and international partners to Deter strategic attacks against the United States and its allies; Prevent, reduce, and counter WMD and emerging threats; and Prevail against WMD-armed adversaries in crisis and conflict. DTRA’s core functions contain many enduring tasks and responsibilities as well as new efforts and initiatives to account for rapidly evolving technological and operational challenges. In all cases, the Agency adapts to address these issues more effectively by performing basic and applied research, exploratory development, and cybersecurity to meet our nation’s most critical science and technology needs. Scholars at DTRA can look forward to working within their Sponsoring Directorate applying their knowledge, experiences, skills, and talents to contribute to the missions of countering and deterring WMD and emerging threats.

DEVCOM Armaments Center’s mission is to lead research, development, and engineering of systems solutions to arm those who defend the nation against all current and future threats, both at home and abroad.

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL), as an integral part of the Army Futures Command, is the U.S Army’s foundational research laboratory that has the mission of operationalizing science. The DEVCOM ARL mission essential task of foundational research has the objective to conduct research and reconnaissance to inform future Army science, technology, and engineering and invest in areas that ensure overmatch. DEVCOM ARL executes research in 11 competencies that provide the Army foundational expertise and specialized capabilities grounded in scientific excellence and driven by unique Army challenges. These competencies are: Biological and Biotechnology Sciences; Electromagnetic Spectrum Sciences; Energy Sciences, Humans in Complex Systems; Mechanical Sciences; Military Information Sciences; Network, Cyber, and Computational Sciences; Photonics, Electronics, and Quantum Sciences; Sciences of Extreme Materials; Terminal Effects; and Weapons Sciences.

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC) is a team of world-class scientists, engineers, analysts, technicians, and support staff who are fully focused on empowering America’s Soldiers today and in the future. We leverage cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum effects, autonomy, robotics, advanced energetics, and synthetic biology to give Soldiers the ability to see, sense, decide, and act faster than their adversaries. Located in Natick, MA, and Orlando, FL, DEVCOM Soldier Center is the science behind the Soldier.

NAWCWD is the Navy’s largest single land-holding of 85% of the Navy’s land for Research, Development, Acquisition, Test, and Evaluation (RDAT&E). With a combined 1,829 square miles of land, 36,000 square miles of sea, and 20,000 square miles of restricted airspace, NAWCWD maintains centers of excellence in weapons development and electronic warfare for the Department of Navy. With over 75 years of accelerated, game-changing weapons development, testing, and integration, NAWCWD continues to deliver products and innovations that support our National Defense Strategy and provide a tactical advantage to the fleet. NAWCWD enables the industry and government teaming by providing government expertise and collaboration at all levels within original equipment manufacturers (OEM) for development and production, including organic completion of integration, testing, fielding, and sustainment of systems.

NAWCAD is the Navy’s largest warfare center with a diverse force of military, civilians and contractors building the navy of today, the navy of tomorrow and the navy after next. The acquisition and sustainment of capability is a weapon of war -NAWCAD delivers! NAWCAD is where naval aviation takes flight through research, development, test and evaluation of both fielded and not-yet fielded naval platforms and technologies that ensure America’s Sailors and Marines always go into conflict with significant advantage.

The U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory’s mission is to deliver scientific solutions that save lives and increase performance of Army aviators, the airborne Soldier, and ground Warriors. The Laboratory’s unique mix of scientific personnel successfully conduct critical research for solving operationally relevant medical problems, and collaborate with military developers to enhance the performance and safety of future Army systems.