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1 [1] (February 12, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/govethl0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing th~ Iegi~htive debate since 1914 Updated February 12, 2026 Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Advances in science and technology (S&T) have long played a critical role in ensuring the technological preeminence of the U.S. military. The Department of Defense (DOD), which is using a secondary Department of War designation under Executive Order (E.O.) 14347 of September 5, 2025, is the largest funder of federal research and development. Over the last several years, policymakers and others have expressed concern that the long-held technological edge of the U.S. military is eroding. In part, this concern is due to the proliferation of technologies developed outside the defense sector (e.g., artificial intelligence), organizational and cultural barriers to DOD effectively incorporating and exploiting commercial innovations, and insufficient engagement with leading-edge companies that have not historically been a part of the DOD innovation system. The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD (R&E)), who is using Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering as a secondary title under E.O. 14347, is a civilian official reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense. The USD (R&E) serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense, who is using Secretary of War as a secondary title under E.O. 14347, for DOD research, engineering, and technology development activities and programs. The position of the USD (R&E) as the third-highest-ranking DOD official-behind the Secretary and Deputy Secretary in all matters for which the Under Secretary has responsibility-is intended to promote faster innovation and to increase the department's risk tolerance in the pursuit of new technologies. Orin ofthe US ) Position Leadership of DOD research, engineering, and technology development activities and functions within the Office of the Secretary of Defense has varied over the course of DOD's history. For example, there was a USD (R&E) from 1977 to 1986 and an Assistant Secretary of Defense for R&E from 2011 through 2016. Reestablishment of the position of the USD (R&E) in 2016 through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 (P.L. 114-328) is the most recent realignment. P.L. 114-328 eliminated the position of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD (AT&L)) and established the positions of USD (R&E) and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD (A&S)). In reestablishing the position of USD (R&E), the Senate Armed Services Committee stated (S.Rept. 114-255), The committee believes that improving defense innovation requires a greater willingness to experiment and accept risk. Experimentation and even occasional failure cannot be stigmatized, so long as failure occurs quickly, cheaply, and leads to knowledge that can drive toward eventual success. That is a different kind of culture than the pervasive caution and slowness that currently exists across the Department of Defense acquisition and research enterprises.... The numerous acquisition reform authorities ... proposed in this year's Act[] are largely focused on empowering the Secretary of Defense to work around DOD's slow and costly acquisition system, to access new centers of innovation and disruptive new technologies in our commercial economy, and to reclaim our eroding defense technological advantage. This was the mission that the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering once performed so effectively, and the committee believes should be empowered to do again. Furthermore, in the conference report (H.Rept. 114-840) for the FY2017 NDAA, conferees stated their expectation that the USD (R&E) would take risks, press the technology envelope, test and experiment, and have the latitude to fail, as appropriate. USD (R ) Roes and Responsibiities According to Title 10, Section 133a, of the U.S. Code, the powers and duties of the USD (R&E) include * serving as chief technology officer (CTO) of DOD with the mission of advancing technology and innovation for the military services and DOD; * establishing policies on, and supervising, all defense research and engineering, technology development, technology transition, appropriate prototyping activities, experimentation, and developmental testing activities and programs and unifying defense research and engineering efforts across DOD; * serving as the principal advisor to the Secretary [of Defense] on all research, engineering, and technology development activities and programs in DOD; * directing the Secretaries of the military departments and the heads of all other [DOD elements] with regard to matters for which the Under Secretary has responsibility; and * conducting developmental prototyping, designing and executing experiments of prototypes in the field to demonstrate operational relevance to address joint force capability gaps, and encouraging and supporting the rapid transition of technology from the research and development phase into operational use within [DOD].