§ 4001. Research and development projects

Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title VIII, § 833, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1833, provided that: “(a) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2021], the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment or the Under Secretary’s designee, shall establish a pilot program (in this section referred to as the ‘Pilot Program’) to develop and implement unique acquisition mechanisms for emerging technologies in order to increase the speed of transition of emerging technologies into acquisition programs or into operational use. “(b) Elements.—In carrying out the Pilot Program, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall—“(1) identify, and award agreements to, not less than four new projects supporting high-priority defense modernization activities, consistent with the National Defense Strategy, with consideration given to—“(A) offensive missile capabilities; “(B) space-based assets; “(C) personnel and quality of life improvement; “(D) energy generation and storage; and “(E) any other area activities the Under Secretary determines appropriate; “(2) develop a unique acquisition plan for each project identified pursuant to paragraph (1) that is significantly novel from standard Department of Defense acquisition practices, including the use of—“(A) alternative price evaluation models; “(B) alternative independent cost estimation methodologies; “(C) alternative market research methods; “(D) continuous assessment of performance metrics to measure project value for use in program management and oversight; “(E) alternative intellectual property strategies, including activities to support modular open system approaches (as defined in section 2446a(b) of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4401(b)]) and reduce life-cycle and sustainment costs; and “(F) other alternative practices identified by the Under Secretary; “(3) execute the acquisition plans described in paragraph (2) and award agreements in an expedited manner; and “(4) determine if existing authorities are sufficient to carry out the activities described in this subsection and, if not, submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] recommendations for statutory reforms that will provide sufficient authority. “(c) Regulation Waiver.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall establish mechanisms for the Under Secretary to waive, upon request, regulations, directives, or policies of the Department of Defense, a military service, or a Defense Agency with respect to a project awarded an agreement under the Pilot Program if the Under Secretary determines that such a waiver furthers the purposes of the Pilot Program, unless such waiver would be prohibited by a provision of a Federal statute or common law. “(d) Agreement Termination.—“(1) In general.—The Secretary of Defense may establish procedures to terminate agreements awarded under the Pilot Program. “(2) Notification required.—Any procedure established under paragraph (1) shall require that, not later than 30 days prior to the termination of any agreement under such procedure, notice of such termination shall be provided to the congressional defense committees. “(e) Pilot Program Advisory Group.—“(1) In general.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall establish a Pilot Program advisory group to advise the Under Secretary on—“(A) the selection, management and elements of projects under the Pilot Program; “(B) the collection of data regarding the use of the Pilot Program; and “(C) the termination of agreements under the Pilot Program. “(2) Membership.—“(A) In general.—The members of the advisory group established under paragraph (1) shall be appointed as follows:“(i) One member from each military department (as defined under section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code), appointed by the Secretary of the military department concerned. “(ii) One member appointed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. “(iii) One member appointed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. “(iv) One member appointed by the Director of the Strategic Capabilities Office of the Department of Defense. “(v) One member appointed by the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. “(vi) One member appointed by the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation. “(vii) One member appointed by the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. “(B) Deadline for appointment.—Members of the advisory group shall be appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the establishment of the pilot program under subsection (a). “(3) FACA non-applicability.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act ([former] 5 U.S.C. App.) [see 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.] shall not apply to the advisory group established under paragraph (1). “(f) Information to Congress.—“(1) Briefing requirement.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less than annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on activities performed under this section. “(2) Budget justification materials.—The Secretary shall establish procedures to clearly identify all projects under the Pilot Program in budget justification materials submitted to Congress. “(g) Data Requirements.—“(1) Collection and analysis of data.—The Secretary shall establish mechanisms to collect and analyze data on the execution of the Pilot Program for the purpose of—“(A) developing and sharing best practices for achieving goals established for the Pilot Program; “(B) providing information to the Secretary and the congressional defense committees on the execution of the Pilot Program; and “(C) providing information to the Secretary and the congressional defense committees on related policy issues. “(2) Data strategy required.—The Secretary may not establish the Pilot Program prior to completion of a plan for—“(A) meeting the requirements of this subsection; “(B) collecting the data required to carry out an evaluation of the lessons learned from the Pilot Program; and “(C) conducting such evaluation. “(h) Termination.—The Pilot Program shall terminate on the earlier of—“(1) the date on which each project identified under subsection (b)(1) has either been completed or has had all agreements awarded to such project under the Pilot Program terminated; or “(2) the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.”

Designation of Senior Officials for Critical Technology Areas Supportive of the National Defense Strategy

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, § 217(a)–(d), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3460, 3461, as amended by Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title II, § 252, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 800, provided that: “(a) Designation of Senior Officials.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall—“(1) identify technology areas that the Under Secretary considers critical for the support of the National Defense Strategy; and “(2) for each such technology area, designate a senior official of the Department of Defense to coordinate research and engineering activities in that area. “(b) Duties.—The duties of each senior official designated under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the technology area overseen by such official—“(1) developing and continuously updating research and technology development roadmaps, funding strategies, and technology transition strategies to ensure—“(A) the effective and efficient development of new capabilities in the area; and “(B) the operational use of appropriate technologies; “(2) conducting annual assessments of workforce, infrastructure, and industrial base capabilities and capacity to support—“(A) the roadmaps developed under paragraph (1); and “(B) the goals of the National Defense Strategy; “(3) reviewing the relevant research and engineering budgets of appropriate organizations within the Department of Defense, including the Armed Forces, and advising the Under Secretary on—“(A) the consistency of the budgets with the roadmaps developed under paragraph (1); “(B) any technical and programmatic risks to the achievement of the research and technology development goals of the National Defense Strategy; “(C) programs, projects, and activities that demonstrate—“(i) unwanted or inefficient duplication, including duplication with activities of other government agencies and the commercial sector; “(ii) lack of appropriate coordination with other organizations; or “(iii) inappropriate alignment with organizational missions and capabilities; “(4) coordinating the research and engineering activities of the Department with appropriate international, interagency, and private sector organizations; and “(5) tasking appropriate intelligence agencies of the Department to develop a direct comparison between the capabilities of the United States in the technology area concerned and the capabilities of adversaries of the United States in that area. “(c) Annual Reports.—“(1) In general.—Not later than December 1, 2021, and not later than December 1 of each year thereafter through December 1, 2030, the Under Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report on research and engineering activities and on the status of the technology areas identified under subsection (a)(1), including a description of any programs, projects, or activities in such areas, that have, in the year preceding the date of the report—“(A) achieved significant technical progress; “(B) transitioned from the research and development phase to formal acquisition programs; “(C) transitioned from the research and development phase into operational use; or “(D) been transferred from the Department of Defense to private sector organizations for further commercial development or commercial sales. “(2) Form.—Each report under paragraph (1) shall [sic] submitted in unclassified form that can be made available to the public, but may include a classified annex. “(d) Coordination of Research and Engineering Activities.—The Service Acquisition Executive for each military department and the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency shall each identify senior officials to ensure coordination of appropriate research and engineering activities with each of the senior officials designated under subsection (a).”

Social Science, Management Science, and Information Science Research Activities

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, § 220, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3464, provided that: “(a) Establishment.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall carry out a program of research and development in social science, management science, and information science. “(b) Purposes.—The purposes of the program under subsection (a) are as follows:“(1) To ensure that the Department of Defense has access to innovation and expertise in social science, management science, and information science to enable the Department to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and agility of the Department’s operational and management activities. “(2) To develop and manage a portfolio of research initiatives in fundamental and applied social science, management science, and information science that is stable, consistent, and balanced across relevant disciplines. “(3) To enhance cooperation and collaboration on research and development in the fields of social science, management science, and information science between the Department of Defense and appropriate private sector and international entities that are involved in research and development in such fields. “(4) To accelerate the development of a research community and industry to support Department of Defense missions in the fields of social science, management science, and information science, including the development of facilities, a workforce, infrastructure, and partnerships in support of such missions. “(5) To coordinate all research and development within the Department of Defense in the fields of social science, management science, and information science. “(6) To collect, synthesize, and disseminate critical information on research and development in the fields of social science, management science, and information science. “(7) To assess and appropriately share, with other departments and agencies of the Federal Government and appropriate entities in the private sector—“(A) challenges within the Department of Defense that may be addressed through the application of advances in social science, management science, and information science; and “(B) datasets related to such challenges. “(8) To support the identification of organizational and institutional barriers to the implementation of management and organizational enhancements and best practices. “(9) To accelerate efforts—“(A) to transition, and deploy within the Department of Defense, technologies and concepts derived from research and development in the fields of social science, management science, and information science; and “(B) to establish policies, procedures, and standards for measuring the success of such efforts. “(10) To integrate knowledge from cross-disciplinary research on—“(A) how factors relating to social science, management science, and information science affect the global security environment; and “(B) best practices for management in the public and private sectors. “(11) To apply principles, tools, and methods from social science, management science, and information science—“(A) to ensure the Department of Defense is more agile, efficient, and effective in organizational management and in deterring and countering current and emerging threats; and “(B) to support the National Defense Strategy. “(c) Administration.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall supervise the planning, management, and coordination of the program under subsection (a). “(d) Activities.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Secretaries of the military departments, and the heads of relevant Defense Agencies, shall—“(1) prescribe a set of long-term challenges and a set of specific technical goals for the program, including—“(A) optimization of analysis of national security data sets; “(B) development of innovative defense-related management activities; “(C) improving the operational use of social science, management science, and information science innovations by military commanders and civilian leaders; “(D) improving understanding of the fundamental social, cultural, and behavioral forces that shape the strategic interests of the United States; and “(E) developing a Department of Defense workforce capable of developing and leveraging innovations and best practices in the fields of social science, management science, and information science to support defense missions; “(2) develop a coordinated and integrated research and investment plan for meeting near-term, mid-term, and long-term national security, defense-related, and Departmental management challenges that—“(A) includes definitive milestones; “(B) provides for achieving specific technical goals; “(C) establishes pathways to address the operational and management missions of the Department through—“(i) the evaluation of innovations and advances in social science, management science, and information science for potential implementation within the Department; and “(ii) implementation of such innovations and advances within the Department, as appropriate; and “(C) [(D)] builds upon the investments of the Department, other departments and agencies of the Federal Government, and the commercial sector in the fields of social science, management science, and information science; “(3) develop plans for—“(A) the development of the Department’s workforce in social science, management science, and information science; and “(B) improving awareness of—“(i) the fields of social science, management science, and information science; “(ii) advances and innovations in such fields; and “(iii) and the ability of such advances and innovations to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department; and “(4) develop memoranda of agreement, joint funding agreements, and such other cooperative arrangements as the Under Secretary determines necessary—“(A) to carry out the program under subsection (a); and “(B) to transition appropriate products, services, and innovations relating social science, management science, and information science into use within the Department. “(e) Guidance Required.—“(1) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 1, 2021], the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall develop and issue guidance for defense-related social science, management science, and information science activities, including—“(A) classification and data management plans for such activities; “(B) policies for control of personnel participating in such activities to protect national security interests; and “(C) ensuring that research findings and innovations in the fields of social science, management science, and information science are incorporated into the activities and strategic documents of the Department. “(2) Updates.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall regularly update the guidance issued under paragraph (1). “(f) Designation of Entity.—The Secretary of each military department may establish or designate an entity or activity under the jurisdiction of such Secretary, which may include a Department of Defense Laboratory, an academic institution, or another appropriate organization, to support interdisciplinary research and development activities in the fields of social science, management science, and information science, and engage with appropriate public and private sector organizations, including academic institutions, to enhance and accelerate the research, development, and deployment of social science, management science, and information science within the Department. “(g) Use of Other Authority.—The Secretary of Defense shall use the authority provided under section 217 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note [now 10 U.S.C. 4001 note, set out below]) to enhance the ability of the Department of Defense to access technical talent and expertise at academic institutions in support of the purposes of this section. “(h) Report.—“(1) In general.—Not later than December 31, 2022, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report on the program under subsection (a). “(2) Form of report.—The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.”

Activities To Improve Fielding of Air Force Hypersonic Capabilities

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, § 222, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3469, provided that: “(a) Improvement of Ground-based Test Facilities.—The Secretary of Defense shall take such actions as may be necessary to improve ground-based test facilities used for the research, development, test, and evaluation of hypersonic capabilities. “(b) Increasing Flight Test Rate.—The Secretary of Defense shall increase the rate at which hypersonic capabilities are flight tested to expedite the maturation and fielding of such capabilities. “(c) Strategy and Plan.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 1, 2021], the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a strategy and plan for fielding air-launched and air-breathing hypersonic weapons capabilities within the period of three years following such date of enactment. “(d) Report.—In addition to the strategy and plan required under subsection (c), not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in consultation with the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the testing capabilities and infrastructure used for hypersonic weapons development. The report shall include—“(1) an assessment of the sufficiency of the testing capabilities and infrastructure used for fielding hypersonic weapons; and “(2) a description of any investments in testing capabilities and infrastructure that may be required to support in-flight and ground-based testing for such weapons.”

Research, Development, and Deployment of Technologies To Support Water Sustainment

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, § 226, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3476, provided that: “(a) In General.—The Secretary of Defense shall research, develop, and deploy advanced water harvesting technologies to support and improve water sustainment within the Department of Defense and in geographic regions where the Department operates. “(b) Required Activities.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—“(1) develop advanced water harvesting systems that reduce weight and logistics support needs compared to conventional water supply systems, including—“(A) modular water harvesting systems that are easily transportable; and “(B) trailer mounted water harvesting systems that reduce resupply needs; “(2) develop and implement storage requirements for water harvesting systems at forward operating bases; and “(3) establish cross functional teams to identify geographic regions where the deployment of water harvesting systems could reduce conflict and potentially eliminate the need for the presence of the Armed Forces. “(c) Additional Activities.—In addition to the activities required under subsection (b), the Secretary shall—“(1) seek to leverage existing water harvesting techniques and technologies and apply such techniques and technologies to military operations carried out by the United States; “(2) consider using commercially available off-the-shelf items (as defined in section 104 of title 41, United States Code) and near-ready deployment technologies to achieve cost savings and improve the self sufficiency of warfighters; and “(3) seek to enter into information sharing arrangements with foreign militaries and other organizations that have the proven ability to operate in water constrained areas for the purpose of sharing lessons learned and best practices relating to water harvesting. “(d) Implementation.—The Secretary shall deploy technologies developed under subsection (b)(1) for use by expeditionary forces not later than January 1, 2025. “(e) Water Harvesting Defined.—In this section, the term ‘water harvesting’, when used with respect to a system or technology, means a system or technology that is capable of creating useable water by—“(1) harvesting water from underutilized environmental sources, such as by capturing water from ambient humidity; or “(2) recycling or otherwise reclaiming water that has previously been used.”

Board of Advisors for the Office of the Senior Official With Principal Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, § 233, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3483, as amended by Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title II, § 212(f), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2468, provided that: “(a) Establishment.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish a board of advisors for the office of the official designated under subsection (b) of section 238 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 4061) (referred to in this section as the ‘Official’). “(b) Duties.—The duties of the board of advisors shall include the following:“(1) Provide independent strategic advice and technical expertise to the Secretary and the Official on matters relating to the development and use of artificial intelligence by the Department of Defense. “(2) Evaluate and advise the Secretary and the Official on ethical matters relating to the development and use of artificial intelligence by the Department. “(3) Conduct long-term and long-range studies on matters relating to artificial intelligence, as required. “(4) Evaluate and provide recommendations to the Secretary and the Official regarding the Department’s development of a robust workforce proficient in artificial intelligence. “(5) Assist the Secretary and the Official in developing strategic level guidance on artificial intelligence-related hardware procurement, supply-chain matters, and other technical matters relating to artificial intelligence. “(c) Membership.—The board of advisors shall be composed of appropriate experts from academic or private sector organizations outside the Department of Defense, who shall be appointed by the Secretary. “(d) Chairperson.—The chairperson of the board of advisors shall be selected by the Secretary. “(e) Meetings.—The board of advisors shall meet not less than once each fiscal quarter and may meet at other times at the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members. “(f) Reports.—Not later than September 30 of each year through September 30, 2026, the board of advisors shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report that summarizes the activities of the board over the preceding year. “(g) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) The term ‘artificial intelligence’ has the meaning given that term in section 238(g) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note [now 10 U.S.C. 4061 note prec.]). “(2) The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Defense.”

Steering Committee on Emerging Technology

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, § 236, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3485, as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title II, § 216, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1595, provided that: “(a) Establishment.—The Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence may jointly establish a steering committee on emerging technology and national security threats (referred to in this section as the ‘Steering Committee’). “(b) Membership.—The Steering Committee shall be composed of the following:“(1) The Deputy Secretary of Defense. “(2) The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “(3) The Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence. “(4) Such other officials of the Department of Defense and intelligence community as the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence jointly determine appropriate. “(c) Leadership.—The Steering Committee shall be chaired by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence jointly. “(d) Responsibilities.—The Steering Committee shall be responsible for—“(1) developing strategies for the organizational change, concept and capability development, and technology investments in emerging technologies that are needed to maintain the technological superiority of the United States military and intelligence community as outlined in the National Defense Strategy and National Intelligence Strategy, and consistent with the National Security Strategy; “(2) providing assessments of emerging threats and identifying investments and advances in emerging technology areas undertaken by adversaries of the United States; “(3) making recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence on—“(A) the implementation of the strategies developed under paragraph (1); “(B) steps that may be taken to address the threats identified under paragraph (2); “(C) any changes to a program of record that may be required to achieve the strategy under paragraph (1); “(D) any changes to the Defense Planning Guidance required by section 113(g)(2)(A) of title 10, United States Code, that may be required to achieve the strategy under paragraph (1); “(E) any changes to the guidance for developing the National Intelligence Program budget required by section 102A(c)(1)(A) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3024(c)(1)(A)), that may be required to implement the strategies under paragraph (1); and “(F) whether sufficient resources are available for the research activities, workforce, and infrastructure of the Department of Defense and the intelligence community to support the development of capabilities to defeat emerging threats to the United States; and “(4) carrying out such other activities as are assigned to the Steering Committee by the Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence, jointly. “(e) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) The term ‘emerging technology’ means technology jointly determined to be in an emerging phase of development by the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, including quantum information science and technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, autonomous technology, advanced materials, software, high performance computing, robotics, directed energy, hypersonics, biotechnology, medical technologies, and such other technology as may be jointly identified by the Secretary and the Director. “(2) The term ‘intelligence community’ has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003). “(f) Sunset.—This section shall terminate on October 1, 2025.”

Part-Time and Term Employment of University Faculty and Students in the Defense Science and Technology Enterprise

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, § 249, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3493, as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title II, §§ 212(c)(3), 215(d)(11), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1588, 1594, provided that: “(a) Program Required.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 1, 2021], the Secretary of Defense shall establish a program under which opportunities for part-time and term employment are made available in the Defense science and technology enterprise for faculty and students of institutions of higher education for the purpose of enabling such faculty and students to carry out research projects in accordance with subsection (b). “(b) Research Projects.—“(1) Faculty.—A faculty member who is employed in position made available under subsection (a) shall, in the course of such employment, carry out a research project that—“(A) relates to a topic in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; and “(B) contributes to the objectives of the Department of Defense, as determined by the Secretary of Defense. “(2) Students.—A student employed in position made available under subsection (a) shall assist a faculty member with a research project described in paragraph (1). “(c) Selection of Participants.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the heads of participating organizations in the Defense science and technology enterprise, shall select individuals for participation in the program under subsection (a) as follows:“(1) Faculty members shall be selected for participation on the basis of—“(A) the academic credentials and research experience of the faculty member; and “(B) the extent to which the research proposed to be carried out by the faculty member will contribute to the objectives of the Department of Defense. “(2) Students shall be selected to assist with a research project under the program on the basis of—“(A) the academic credentials and other qualifications of the student; and “(B) the student’s ability to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to the student as part of the project. “(d) Minimum Number of Positions.—“(1) In general.—During the first year of the program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall establish not fewer than 10 part-time or term positions for faculty. “(2) Artificial intelligence and machine learning.—Of the positions established under paragraph (1), not fewer than five such positions shall be reserved for faculty who will conduct research in the area of artificial intelligence and machine learning. “(e) Authorities.—In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense, or the head of an organization in the Defense science and technology enterprise, as applicable, may—“(1) use any hiring authority available to the Secretary or the head of such organization, including—“(A) any hiring authority available under a laboratory demonstration program, including the hiring authority provided under section 4121(b) of title 10, United States Code; “(B) direct hiring authority under section 1599h of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4092]; and “(C) expert hiring authority under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; “(2) enter into cooperative research and development agreements under section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a) to enable the sharing of research and expertise with institutions of higher education and the private sector; and “(3) pay referral bonuses to faculty or students participating in the program who identify—“(A) students to assist in a research project under the program; or “(B) students or recent graduates to participate in other programs in the Defense science and technology enterprise, including internships at Department of Defense laboratories and in the Pathways Program of the Department. “(f) Annual Reports.—“(1) Initial report.—Not later than 30 days after the conclusion of the first year of the program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report on the status of the program. The report shall include—“(A) identification of the number of faculty and students employed under the program; “(B) identification of the organizations in the Defense science and technology enterprise that employed such individuals; and “(C) a description of the types of research conducted by such individuals. “(2) Subsequent reports.—Not later than 30 days after the conclusion of the second and third years of the program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the progress of the program. Each report shall include—“(A) the information described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1); “(B) the results of any research projects conducted under the program; and “(C) the number of students and recent graduates who, pursuant to a reference from a faculty member or student participating in the program as described in subsection (e)(3), were hired by the Department of Defense or selected for participation in another program in the Defense science and technology enterprise. “(g) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) The term ‘Defense science and technology enterprise’ means—“(A) the research organizations of the military departments; “(B) the science and technology reinvention laboratories (as designated under section 4121(b) of title 10, United States Code); “(C) the facilities of the Major Range and Test Facility Base (as defined in section 2358a(g) of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4091(f)]); and “(D) the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. “(2) The term ‘faculty’ means an individual who serves as a professor, researcher, or instructor at an institution of higher education. “(3) The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).”

Acquisition Authority of the Senior Official With Principal Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VIII, § 808, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3745, as amended by Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title II, § 212(i), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2469; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XV, § 1541, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 572, provided that: “(a) Authority.—The Secretary of Defense shall delegate to the official designated under subsection (b) of section 238 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 4061) (referred to in this section as the ‘Official’) the acquisition authority to exercise the functions of a head of an agency (as defined in section 2302 of title 10, United States Code [see 10 U.S.C. 3004]) with respect to appropriate acquisition activities of the office of such official (referred to in this section as the ‘Office’). “(b) Acquisition Executive.—“(1) In general.—The staff of the Official shall include an acquisition executive who shall be responsible for the supervision of appropriate acquisition activities under subsection (a). Subject to the authority, direction, and control of such Official, the acquisition executive shall have the authority—“(A) to negotiate memoranda of agreement with any element of the Department of Defense to carry out the acquisition of technologies, services, and capabilities developed or identified by the Office; “(B) to supervise the acquisition of technologies, services, and capabilities to support the mission of the Office; “(C) to represent the Office in discussions with the Secretaries concerned regarding acquisition programs relating to such appropriate acquisition activities for which the Office is involved; and “(D) to work with the Secretaries concerned to ensure that the Office is appropriately represented in any joint working group or integrated product team regarding acquisition programs relating to such appropriate activities for which the Office is involved. “(2) Delivery of acquisition solutions.—The acquisition executive of the Office shall be—“(A) responsible to the Official for rapidly delivering capabilities to meet validated requirements; “(B) subordinate to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment in matters of acquisition; and “(C) included on the distribution list for acquisition directives and instructions of the Department of Defense. “(c) Acquisition Personnel.—“(1) In general.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that, at any given time for the duration of the period specified in subsection (d), the Office has at least 10 full-time employees provided by the Secretary to support the Official in carrying out the requirements of this section, including personnel with experience in—“(A) acquisition practices and processes; “(B) the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System process; “(C) program management; “(D) software development and systems engineering; and “(E) cost analysis. “(2) Existing personnel.—The personnel provided under this subsection shall be provided from among the existing personnel of the Department of Defense. “(d) Funding.—In exercising the acquisition authority granted in subsection (a), the Official may not obligate or expend more than $75,000,000 out of the funds made available in each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029 to enter into new contracts to support appropriate acquisition activities carried out under this section. “(e) Implementation Plan and Demonstration Required.—“(1) In general.—“(A) Plan required.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 [Dec. 22, 2023], the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a plan for the delegation and exercise of the acquisition authority described in subsection (a). “(B) Demonstration required.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense, shall provide a demonstration of operational capability delivered under such authority. In addition to the matters specified in paragraph (4), such demonstration shall include a description of—“(i) how the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer may use the acquisition authorities available to the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer to further the data and artificial intelligence objectives of the Department of Defense, including an inventory of requirements and funding associated with the exercise of such acquisition authorities; “(ii) how the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer may use the acquisition authorities of other Federal entities to further such objectives, including an inventory of requirements and funding associated with the exercise of such acquisition authorities; and “(iii) the challenges and benefits of using the acquisition authorities described in clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, to further such objectives. “(2) Implementation plan.—The plan shall include the following:“(A) Description of the types of activities to be undertaken using the acquisition authority provided under subsection (a). “(B) Plan for the negotiation and approval of any such memorandum of agreement with an element of the Department of Defense to support the missions of the Office and transition of artificial intelligence capabilities into appropriate acquisition programs or into operational use. “(C) Plan for oversight of the position of acquisition executive established in subsection (b). “(D) Assessment of the acquisition workforce, tools, and infrastructure needs of the Office to support the authority under subsection (a) until September 30, 2025. “(E) Other matters as appropriate. “(3) Demonstration.—The capability demonstration shall include a description of how the acquisition authority enabled the capability, how requirements were established and agreed upon, how testing was conducted, and how the capability was transitioned to the user, as well as any other matters deemed appropriate by the Office. “(4) Relationship to other authorities.—The requirement to submit a plan under this subsection is in addition to the requirements under section 260 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1293). “(f) Sunset.—Effective October 1, 2029, the Official may not exercise the authority under subsection (a) and may not enter into any new contracts under this section. The performance on any contract entered into before such date may continue according to the terms of such contract. “(g) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) Element.—The term ‘element’ means an element described under section 111(b) of title 10, United States Code. “(2) Secretary concerned.—The term ‘Secretary concerned’ has the meaning given in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.”

Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title II, § 223, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1264, as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title II, §§ 212(c)(2), 215(d)(8), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1588, 1594, provided that: “(a) Program Required.—“(1) In general.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Energy, and the heads of such other Federal agencies as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, shall carry out a program on research, development, testing, evaluation, study, and demonstration of technologies related to blue carbon capture and direct air capture. “(2) Program goals.—The goals of the program established under paragraph (1) are as follows:“(A) To develop technologies that capture carbon dioxide from seawater and the air to turn such carbon dioxide into clean fuels to enhance fuel and energy security. “(B) To develop and demonstrate technologies that capture carbon dioxide from seawater and the air to reuse such carbon dioxide to create products for military uses. “(C) To develop direct air capture technologies for use—“(i) at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense; or “(ii) in modes of transportation by the Navy or the Coast Guard. “(3) Phases.—The program established under paragraph (1) shall be carried out in two phases as follows:“(A) The first phase shall consist of research and development and shall be carried out as described in subsection (b). “(B) The second phase shall consist of testing and evaluation and shall be carried out as described in subsection (c), if the Secretary determines that the results of the research and development phase justify implementing the testing and evaluation phase. “(4) Designation.—The program established under paragraph (1) shall be known as the ‘Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program’ (in this section referred to as the ‘Program’). “(b) Research and Development Phase.—“(1) In general.—During the research and development phase of the Program, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct research and development in pursuit of the goals set forth in subsection (a)(2). “(2) Direct air capture.—The research and development phase of the Program may include, with respect to direct air capture, a front end engineering and design study that includes an evaluation of direct air capture designs to produce fuel for use—“(A) at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense; or “(B) in modes of transportation by the Navy or the Coast Guard. “(3) Commencement.—The Secretary shall commence carrying out the research and development phase of the Program not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019]. “(4) Grants authorized.—The Secretary may carry out the research and development phase of the Program through the award of grants to private persons and eligible laboratories. “(5) Report required.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the completion of the research and development phase of the Program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the research and development carried out under the Program. “(c) Testing and Evaluation Phase.—“(1) In general.—During the testing and evaluation phase of the Program, the Secretary shall, in pursuit of the goals set forth in subsection (a)(2), conduct tests and evaluations of the technologies researched and developed during the research and development phase of the Program. “(2) Direct air capture.—The testing and evaluation phase of the Program may include demonstration projects for direct air capture to produce fuels for use—“(A) at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense; or “(B) in modes of transportation by the Navy or the Coast Guard. “(3) Commencement.—Subject to subsection (a)(3)(B), the Secretary shall commence carrying out the testing and evaluation phase of the Program on the date of the completion of the research and development phase described in subsection (b), except that the testing and evaluation phase of the Program with respect to direct air capture may commence at such time after a front end engineering and design study demonstrates to the Secretary that commencement of such phase is appropriate. “(4) Grants authorized.—The Secretary may carry out the testing and evaluation phase of the Program through the award of grants to private persons and eligible laboratories. “(5) Locations.—The Secretary shall carry out the testing and evaluation phase of the Program at military installations or facilities of the Department of Defense. “(6) Report required.—Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the effectiveness of the technologies tested and evaluated under the Program. “(d) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) The term ‘blue carbon capture’ means the removal of dissolved carbon dioxide from seawater through engineered or inorganic processes, including filters, membranes, or phase change systems. “(2)(A) The term ‘direct air capture’, with respect to a facility, technology, or system, means that the facility, technology, or system uses carbon capture equipment to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air. “(B) The term ‘direct air capture’ does not include any facility, technology, or system that captures carbon dioxide—“(i) that is deliberately released from a naturally occurring subsurface spring; or “(ii) using natural photosynthesis. “(3) The term ‘eligible laboratory’ means—“(A) a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)); “(B) a science and technology reinvention laboratory designated under section 4121(b) of title 10, United States Code; “(C) the Major Range and Test Facility Base (as defined in section 2358a(g) of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4091(f)]); or “(D) any other facility that supports the research, development, test, and evaluation activities of the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy.”

Research Program on Foreign Malign Influence Operations

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title II, § 228, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1271, provided that: “(a) Program Authorized.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, may carry out a research program on foreign malign influence operations as part of the university research programs of the Department of Defense. “(b) Program Objectives.—The objectives of a research program carried out under subsection (a) should include the following:“(1) Enhance the understanding of foreign malign influence operations, including activities conducted on social media platforms. “(2) Facilitate the analysis of publicly available or voluntarily provided indicators of foreign malign influence operations. “(3) Promote collaborative research and information exchange with relevant entities within the Department of Defense and with other agencies or nongovernmental organizations relating to foreign malign influence operations, as appropriate. “(c) Notice to Congress.—Not later than 30 days before initiating a research program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] notice of the intent of the Secretary to initiate such a program, which shall include—“(1) a detailed description of the program and any related research activities; “(2) the estimated cost and duration of the program; and “(3) any other matters the Secretary determines to be relevant.”

Diversification of the Research and Engineering Workforce of the Department of Defense

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title II, § 229, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1271, provided that: “(a) Assessment Required.—“(1) In general.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, shall conduct an assessment of critical skillsets required across, and the diversity of, the research and engineering workforce of the Department of Defense, including the science and technology reinvention laboratories, to support emerging and future warfighter technologies. “(2) Elements.—The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall include analysis of the following:“(A) The percentage of women and minorities employed in the research and engineering workforce of the Department of Defense as of the date of the assessment. “(B) Of the individuals hired into the research and engineering workforce of the Department in the five years preceding the date of the assessment, the percentage of such individuals who are women and minorities. “(C) The effectiveness of existing hiring, recruitment, and retention incentives for women and minorities in the research and engineering workforce of the Department. “(D) The effectiveness of the Department in recruiting women and minorities into the laboratory workforce after such individuals complete work on Department-funded research, projects, grant projects, fellowships, and STEM programs. “(E) The geographical diversity of the workforce across various geographic regions. “(b) Plan Required.—“(1) In general.—Based on the results of the assessment conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall develop and implement a plan to diversify and strengthen the research and engineering workforce of the Department of Defense. “(2) Elements.—The plan required by paragraph (1) shall—“(A) align with science and technology strategy priorities of the Department of Defense, including the emerging and future warfighter technology requirements identified by the Department; “(B) except as provided in subsection (c)(2), set forth steps for the implementation of each recommendation included in the 2013 report of the RAND corporation titled ‘First Steps Toward Improving DoD STEM Workforce Diversity’; “(C) harness the full range of the Department’s STEM programs and other Department sponsored programs to develop and attract top talent; “(D) use existing authorities to attract and retain students, academics, and other talent; “(E) establish and use contracts, agreements, or other arrangements with institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), including historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions (as described in section 371(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)) to enable easy and efficient access to research and researchers for Government sponsored basic and applied research and studies at each institution, including contracts, agreements, and other authorized arrangements such as those authorized under—“(i) section 217 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note [now 10 U.S.C. 4001 note, set out below]); and “(ii) such other authorities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and “(F) include recommendations for changes in authorities, regulations, policies, or any other relevant areas that would support the achievement of the goals set forth in the plan. “(3) Submittal to congress.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019], the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report that includes—“(A) the plan developed under paragraph (1); and “(B) with respect to each recommendation described in paragraph (2)(B) that the Secretary has implemented or expects to implement—“(i) a summary of actions that have been taken to implement the recommendation; and “(ii) a schedule, with specific milestones, for completing the implementation of the recommendation. “(c) Deadline for Implementation.—“(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act the Secretary of Defense shall carry out activities to implement the plan developed under subsection (b). “(2) Exception for implementation of certain recommendations.—“(A) Delayed implementation.—The Secretary of Defense may commence implementation of a recommendation described in subsection (b)(2)(B) after the date specified in paragraph (1) if the Secretary provides the congressional defense committees with a specific justification for the delay in implementation of such recommendation on or before such date. “(B) Nonimplementation.—The Secretary of Defense may opt not to implement a recommendation described in subsection (b)(2)(B) if the Secretary provides to the congressional defense committees, on or before the date specified in paragraph (1)—“(i) a specific justification for the decision not to implement the recommendation; and “(ii) a summary of the alternative actions the Secretary plans to take to address the issues underlying the recommendation. “(d) STEM Defined.—In this section, the term ‘STEM’ means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”

Process To Align Policy Formulation and Emerging Technology Development

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title II, § 232, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1277, which required the Secretary of Defense to establish a process to ensure that the policies of the Department of Defense relating to emerging technology were formulated and updated continuously as such technology was developed, was repealed by Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title VIII, § 811(b)(4)(A), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 948.

Department-Wide Software Science and Technology Strategy

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title II, § 255, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1288, as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title II, §§ 212(c)(1), 215(d)(10), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1588, 1594, provided that: “(a) Designation of Senior Official.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019], the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and appropriate public and private sector organizations, shall designate a single official or existing entity within the Department of Defense as the official or entity (as the case may be) with principal responsibility for guiding the development of science and technology activities related to next generation software and software reliant systems for the Department, including—“(1) research and development activities on new technologies for the creation of highly secure, scalable, reliable, time-sensitive, and mission-critical software; “(2) research and development activities on new approaches and tools to software development and deployment, testing, integration, and next generation software management tools to support the rapid insertion of such software into defense systems; “(3) foundational scientific research activities to support advances in software; “(4) technical workforce and infrastructure to support defense science and technology and software needs and mission requirements; “(5) providing capabilities, including technologies, systems, and technical expertise to support improved acquisition of software reliant business and warfighting systems; and “(6) providing capabilities, including technologies, systems, and technical expertise to support defense operational missions which are reliant on software. “(b) Development of Strategy.—The official or entity designated under subsection (a) shall develop a Department-wide strategy for the research and development of next generation software and software reliant systems for the Department of Defense, including strategies for—“(1) types of software-related activities within the science and technology portfolio of the Department; “(2) investment in new approaches to software development and deployment, and next generation management tools; “(3) ongoing research and other support of academic, commercial, and development community efforts to innovate the software development, engineering, and testing process, automated testing, assurance and certification for safety and mission critical systems, large scale deployment, and sustainment; “(4) to the extent practicable, implementing or continuing the implementation of the recommendations set forth in—“(A) the final report of the Defense Innovation Board submitted to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] under section 872 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 131 Stat. 1497); “(B) the final report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on the Design and Acquisition of Software for Defense Systems described in section 868 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 2223[a] note [now 10 U.S.C. 3603 note]); and “(C) other relevant studies on software research, development, and acquisition activities of the Department of Defense. “(5) supporting the acquisition, technology development, testing, assurance, and certification and operational needs of the Department through the development of capabilities, including personnel and research and production infrastructure, and programs in—“(A) the science and technology reinvention laboratories (as designated under section 4121(b) of title 10, United States Code); “(B) the facilities of the Major Range and Test Facility Base (as defined in section 2358a(g) of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4091(f)]); “(C) the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; and “(D) universities, federally funded research and development centers, and service organizations with activities in software engineering; and “(6) the transition of relevant capabilities and technologies to relevant programs of the Department, including software-reliant cyber-physical systems, tactical systems, enterprise systems, and business systems. “(c) Submittal to Congress.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019], the official or entity designated under subsection (a) shall submit to the congressional defense committees the strategy developed under subsection (b).”

Procedures for Rapid Reaction to Emerging Technology

Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title II, § 225, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1684, provided that: “(a) Requirement to Establish Procedures.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 2018], the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall prescribe procedures for the designation and development of technologies that are—“(1) urgently needed—“(A) to react to a technological development of an adversary of the United States; or “(B) to respond to a significant and urgent emerging technology; and “(2) not receiving appropriate research funding or attention from the Department of Defense. “(b) Elements.—The procedures prescribed under subsection (a) shall include the following:“(1) A process for streamlined communications between the Under Secretary, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the commanders of the combatant commands, the science and technology executives within each military department, and the science and technology community, including—“(A) a process for the commanders of the combatant commands and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to communicate their needs to the science and technology community; and “(B) a process for the science and technology community to propose technologies that meet the needs communicated by the combatant commands and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “(2) Procedures for the development of technologies proposed pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), including—“(A) a process for demonstrating performance of the proposed technologies on a short timeline; “(B) a process for developing a development strategy for a technology, including integration into future budget years; and “(C) a process for making investment determinations based on information obtained pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B). “(c) Briefing.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a briefing on the procedures required by subsection (a).”

Human Factors Modeling and Simulation Activities

Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title II, § 227, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1687, provided that: “(a) Activities Required.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop and provide for the carrying out of human factors modeling and simulation activities designed to do the following:“(1) Provide warfighters and civilians with personalized assessment, education, and training tools. “(2) Identify and implement effective ways to interface and team warfighters with machines. “(3) Result in the use of intelligent, adaptive augmentation to enhance decision making. “(4) Result in the development of techniques, technologies, and practices to mitigate critical stressors that impede warfighter and civilian protection, sustainment, and performance. “(b) Purpose.—The overall purpose of the activities shall be to accelerate research and development that enhances capabilities for human performance, human-systems integration, and training for the warfighter. “(c) Participants in Activities.—Participants in the activities may include the following:“(1) Elements of the Department of Defense engaged in science and technology activities. “(2) Program Executive Offices of the Department. “(3) Academia. “(4) The private sector. “(5) Such other participants as the Secretary considers appropriate.”

Defense Quantum Information Science and Technology Research and Development Program