Defense Joint Counterintelligence Activities

The Defense Joint Counterintelligence Activities program, managed by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), is a key element of the Department of Defense's (DoD) efforts to protect critical technologies and maintain a trusted workforce. The program's primary objectives are to advance counterintelligence capabilities, safeguard sensitive research and development, and ensure the integrity of industrial and federal personnel involved in national security. DCSA leverages advanced technologies and innovative approaches to blend technology protection, personnel vetting, counterintelligence, and professional education. These efforts support the strategic edge of the United States and its allies.

Within this program element, two major initiatives are funded: the Critical Technology Protection Integration Cell (CTPIC) and the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS). The CTPIC serves as the DoD's focal point for coordinating, integrating, and sharing operational information related to the protection of critical technologies. Its goal is to deter, detect, and disrupt unauthorized technology transfer activities by adversaries. CTPIC supports whole-of-government engagement, providing assessments and prioritizing resources to address targeted threats. It also develops automated tracking mechanisms to identify and deconflict cleared contract facilities working on Department-wide Critical and Emerging Technologies.

The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) is managed as a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) and focuses on strategic research and development to address intelligence and security challenges. ARLIS overlays expertise in human behavior, social science, culture, and language with research in emerging and advanced technologies. The objective is to solve increasingly technical, yet human-centered, intelligence and security problems. Funding for ARLIS supports research efforts that benefit the Defense Security Enterprise (DSE), including the development of new capabilities and capacity for future work sponsors.

A significant component of ARLIS is the Research for Intelligence and Security Internship Program, which aims to increase diversity in the intelligence and security career fields and develop a future workforce equipped to address tomorrow's technical challenges. In a recent fiscal year, competitively selected students participated in the program, completed projects, and received security clearances. The program continues to receive funding in subsequent years, with an emphasis on expanding access and supporting research that benefits industrial security activities.

Another key objective is the support for Human Research Protection Office reviews, which ensure that research involving human subjects meets ethical and regulatory standards. ARLIS funded reviews for Defense Innovation Unit projects focused on modernizing polygraph technologies. This support is planned to continue in subsequent fiscal years, ensuring that research activities are conducted responsibly and in compliance with DoD policies.

For CTPIC, ongoing and planned activities include maintaining access to critical data sources, developing analysis tools, and centralizing technology protection information. The funding enables focused engagements that deliver targeted threat information in usable formats to stakeholders across the DoD and the broader federal government. CTPIC's work supports the prioritization of limited resources and enhances the effectiveness of mitigation actions against adversarial threats.