Science and Technology Management - Major Headquarters Activities

The Science and Technology Management - Major Headquarters Activities program, designated as PE 0602298F in the Air Force Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget, is a critical line item supporting the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). This program is part of Budget Activity 2, Applied Research, which focuses on studies, investigations, and non-system specific technology efforts aimed at addressing general military needs. The primary objective of this program is to provide professional government civilian workforce support for all AFRL programs and activities. This ensures the effective management, execution, and delivery of science and technology (S&T) capabilities across the Air Force.

The AFRL is tasked with leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for the global air, space, and cyberspace force. The goals of the Science and Technology Management - Major Headquarters Activities program include maintaining a highly skilled civilian workforce, optimizing personnel resources, and supporting the AFRL's mission to deliver revolutionary and responsive S&T solutions to the warfighter. Program funds are used to cover necessary civilian pay expenses required for workforce management, which is essential for sustaining AFRL's technical leadership and operational effectiveness.

For Fiscal Year 2026, the program supports a number of direct Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) civilian positions. This funding level reflects adjustments made to optimize the workforce in compliance with Executive Order 14210, which mandates government efficiency and workforce optimization initiatives. Specifically, the request was adjusted for civilian personnel optimization, while an increase was added to account for updated average work year costs, resulting in a net increase compared to the previous budget.

The program utilizes authorities provided under 10 USC 4091, which grants AFRL flexibility in managing workforce strength, structure, positions, and compensation for certain science and technology reinvention laboratories. This statutory authority enables AFRL to attract and retain top technical talent, ensuring that the laboratory remains competitive and capable of meeting evolving defense technology needs. The program element may also include civilian pay expenses that supplement those budgeted in other related program elements, thereby providing comprehensive support for AFRL's S&T management functions.

Within this program element, the specific budget line responsible for the direct funding of the civilian workforce supports all AFRL programs and activities. The accomplishments and planned programs for Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026 focus on continuing to provide this professional workforce, which is fundamental to the success of AFRL's research and technology initiatives. The increase in funding from one year to the next is primarily attributed to civilian pay reprice adjustments, reflecting the need to maintain competitive compensation for government personnel.

No other program funding summaries or acquisition strategies are applicable to this line item, as its primary purpose is workforce support rather than procurement or direct research activities. The justification for this program centers on the necessity of sustaining a robust civilian workforce to manage and execute AFRL's diverse portfolio of S&T projects. By investing in personnel, the Air Force ensures that its research enterprise remains agile, innovative, and capable of delivering advanced technologies to meet current and future defense requirements.