Defense Joint Counterintelligence Activities

The Defense Joint Counterintelligence Activities program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0305146F, is managed by the Department of the Air Force and focuses on research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) for advanced counterintelligence (CI) capabilities. The primary goal of this program is to develop and enhance technologies that can detect, thwart, and neutralize advanced technical surveillance and cyber threats posed by hostile forces and foreign intelligence entities. This program supports both the Department of Defense (DoD) and Air Force (AF) requirements, ensuring secure environments for mission planning and theater command operations.

The central objective of the Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) effort is to develop future technologies capable of countering sophisticated surveillance and intelligence-gathering techniques used by adversaries. The TSCM program aims to provide secure operational environments, particularly in austere or forward-deployed mission planning locations and theater commander centers. These technologies are designed to collect actionable intelligence for counterthreat operations and support broader DoD and Air Force counterintelligence missions. The justification for this investment is rooted in the increasing sophistication of adversary surveillance capabilities and the need to protect sensitive and classified information, activities, and technology.

Another significant component is the Cyber Counterintelligence Pilot, which focuses on enhancing the cyber defense posture of the Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI). This initiative supports the development and operation of a dedicated cyber enclave for OSI, enabling it to detect and neutralize covert cyber activities conducted by foreign intelligence entities. The program specifically advances lines of effort tailored to pursue and mitigate cyber threats targeting DoD and Air Force networks and data. The objective is to provide state-of-the-art cyber counterintelligence capabilities to protect against the compromise of classified or sensitive information in cyberspace.

The acquisition strategy for the Defense Joint Counterintelligence Activities program leverages existing contracts with leading research institutions and laboratories. TSCM funds are obligated through contracts with the Naval Research Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), ensuring access to cutting-edge surveillance countermeasure technologies. For the cyber counterintelligence component, funding is directed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. This approach ensures that the program benefits from the expertise and innovation of premier defense research organizations.

The program has seen relatively stable funding levels, with minor adjustments due to inflationary effects. The budget justification highlights that no funds are allocated for civilian pay expenses within this program element, as those costs are covered under separate program elements. The focus remains on RDT&E activities to upgrade and enhance fielded systems or those approved for full-rate production.

Planned accomplishments for upcoming fiscal years include the continued advancement of counterintelligence equipment and software under the TSCM line, as well as ongoing research and development for new iterations of cyber threat pursuit activities under the Cyber Counterintelligence Pilot. These efforts are intended to keep pace with evolving adversary tactics and technologies, ensuring that DoD and Air Force counterintelligence capabilities remain effective and relevant.