Cyber Security Research

The Cyber Security Research program element, managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is designed to advance the Department of Defense's (DoD) priorities as outlined in the interim National Defense Strategy. Its primary goals are to defend the homeland, deter strategic attacks, and build a resilient joint force and defense ecosystem. This program supports applied research efforts that address science and technology gaps in cyber operations, focusing on both defensive and offensive capabilities. The research integrates electromagnetic spectrum operations and artificial intelligence to enhance cyber power projection, maneuver, and unity of command, ensuring dominance in the information battlespace.

Cyber Applied Research is the largest line item within this program element, supporting innovative cyber research to meet joint force challenges across all domains maritime, land, air, cyberspace, and space. The objectives include developing interoperable, defense-wide technology options for Combatant Command needs, with research thrusts in Augmented Cognition, Dominant Cyber Operations, Dependable Systems and Networks, and Cyber Foundations. Key activities involve enhancing human operator capabilities, securing hardware and software through co-design, integrating cyber with electromagnetic warfare and intelligence, and applying formal methods for rigorous specification and verification of cyber systems. The program also explores non-kinetic effects and rapid prototyping to maintain a decisive advantage against adversaries, especially in contested environments like the Indo-Pacific.

Academic Cyber Institute VICEROY is a congressional add focused on developing foundational expertise in critical cyber operational skills for future military and civilian leaders. The VICEROY initiative supports experiential learning, degree and certificate programs, and DoD-focused research at academic institutions nationwide. It aims to scale internship programs, expand partnerships, and develop standardized rubrics for credentialing scholars. The program also establishes advisory boards to align academic efforts with DoD workforce needs and partners with other initiatives to expand talent pipelines in key regions like Hawai'i.

Pacific Intelligence and Innovation Initiatives (P3I) is another congressional add that addresses the need for a ready DoD and defense industrial base workforce in cyber, IT, electronic warfare, data science, and intelligence, particularly in the INDOPACOM area. P3I develops and expands workforce pathways through partnerships with secondary schools, chambers of commerce, military organizations, and local industry. The initiative supports internships and employment placement, collaborates with academic institutions and military organizations, and maintains training programs to ensure a steady supply of qualified personnel for defense sector jobs in the Pacific region.

University Consortium for Cyber Security was established to increase communication, collaboration, and access between the academic research community and the DoD. Its objectives include raising academic awareness of DoD science and technology priorities, expanding collaboration opportunities, and funding university research solutions that address near-term technology gaps. The consortium engages with the operational community, issues solicitations for technology solutions, and supports demonstrations and pilot projects that may transition to sustainment. It also develops cyber student talent for the DoD workforce.

Semiconductor Supply Chain Cyber Security Research is a targeted congressional add aimed at addressing vulnerabilities in the semiconductor supply chain through applied research. The program focuses on reviewing technical specifications in partnership with academic institutions, with contracts anticipated to support further research. The objective is to ensure the security and resilience of critical hardware components that underpin DoD cyber operations, reducing risks associated with supply chain threats and enabling secure system development at scale.