Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

Organizations included under the USD (R&E) include the following. As of February 2018, organizational relationships remained to be finalized as the organization was being formed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.acq.osd.mil/fo/docs/Section-901-FY-2017-NDAA-Report.pdf|title=Report to Congress: Restructuring the Department of Defense Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Organization and Chief Management Officer Organization|date=1 August 2017|access-date=22 February 2018}} The organizational structure was finalized in July 2018. Agencies marked with an asterisk (*) are not part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2018/07/17/revealed-the-new-structure-for-the-pentagons-tech-and-acquisition-offices/|title=Revealed: The new structure for the Pentagon's tech and acquisition offices|last=Mehta|first=Aaron|date=2018-07-17|website=Defense News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-04}}

• Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering{{Cite web|url=https://fcw.com/articles/2018/03/05/dod-research-engineering-deputy-porter.aspx|title=White House names deputy undersecretary for DOD R&E|last=Johnnson|first=Derek B.|date=5 March 2018|website=FCW|access-date=8 March 2018}}
• Technical Director of Defense Research and Engineering for AI
• Technical Director of Defense Research and Engineering for 5G
• Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Research and Technology
• Deputy Director for Strategic Technology Protection and Exploitation
• Defense Microelectronics Activity*
• Deputy Director for Research, Technology, and Laboratories
• Defense Technical Information Center*
• Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Advanced Capabilities
• Deputy Director for Mission Engineering and Integration
• Deputy Director for Developmental Test and Evaluation
• Test Resource Management Center*
• Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Modernization
• Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Biotechnology{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johncumbers/2019/09/24/with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility--meet-alexander-titus-the-department-of-defenses-head-of-biotechnology/|title="With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" — Meet Alexander Titus The Department Of Defense's Head Of Biotechnology|last=Cumbers|first=John|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2020-04-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1845752/dr-alexander-titus/|title=Dr. Alexander Titus > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography|website=www.defense.gov|access-date=2020-04-16}}{{Cite web |title=Dr. Kate Sixt |url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/2777440/dr-kate-sixt/https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/2777440/dr-kate-sixt/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
• Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Autonomy
• Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Cyber{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1845739/dr-daniel-j-ragsdale/|title=Dr. Daniel J. Ragsdale > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography|website=www.defense.gov|access-date=2020-04-16}}
• Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Directed Energy{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1808202/dr-thomas-j-karr/|title=Dr. Thomas J. Karr > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography|website=www.defense.gov|access-date=2020-04-16}}
• Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for FNC3'FNC3' is an abbreviation of 'Fully-Networked Command, Control and Communications'
• Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Hypersonics{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2101062/department-of-defense-press-briefing-on-hypersonics/|title=Department of Defense Press Briefing on Hypersonics|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-16}}
• Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Microelectronics{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1848311/ms-nicole-m-petta/|title=Ms. Nicole M. Petta > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography|website=www.defense.gov|access-date=2020-04-16}}
• Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Quantum Science{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1890149/dr-paul-lopata/|title=Dr. Paul Lopata > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography|website=www.defense.gov|access-date=2020-04-16}}
• Assistant Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Space
• {{anchor|SDA}}Director of Space Development Agency[https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1853377/derek-m-tournear-phd/ Derek M. Tournear, Director of the Space Development Agency][https://breakingdefense.com/2021/01/smc-sda-missile-warning-sat-ground-systems-wont-talk/ Theresa Hitchens (6 Jan 2021) SMC, SDA Missile Warning Sat Ground Systems Won’t ‘Talk’ – For Now]{{cite web|url=https://www.fbo.gov/index.php?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=d201b631d0c096f4934f53b50050fe34&tab=core&_cview=0|title=Draft BAA, Time-Sensitive Target Mission Payloads Demonstration (TSTMPD) Solicitation Number: HQ0034-19-BAA-TSTMPD-0001}}{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/pentagon-seeking-proposals-for-how-to-use-sensors-in-space-to-quickly-target-enemy-missiles/|title=Pentagon seeking proposals for how to use sensors in space to quickly target enemy missiles|author= Sandra Erwin|date=February 17, 2019|publisher=SpaceNews}}[https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/02/11/sda-to-launch-several-demonstration-satellites-in-2021/ Nathan Strout (11 Feb 2021) SDA to launch several demonstration satellites in 2021][https://maps.esri.com/rc/sat2/index.html ESRI app, Satellite Map][https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/theater-commands-ok-sdas-sat-plans-exclusive/ Theresa Hitchens (1 Apr 2021) Theater Commands OK SDA’s Sat Plans: EXCLUSIVE][https://battle-updates.com/update/satellite-systems-satcom-and-space-systems-update-138/ (8 Oct 2020) SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE][https://www.sda.mil/what-focus-areas-are-key-to-americas-future-space-capabilities/ Nate Turkin (28 Apr 2021) What focus areas are key to America’s future space capabilities?][https://sdquebec.ca/fr/nouvelle/us-army-network-team-sets-timeline-for-satellite-constellations Andrew Eversden (20 Aug 2020) US Army network team sets timeline for satellite constellations ]
• Strategic Intelligence Analysis Cell
• Strategic Capabilities Office Under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, the Strategic Capabilities Office was moved from a subordinate unit under USD(R&E) to a direct report to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
• Defense Innovation Unit
• Missile Defense Agency*
• DARPA*

Upon the February 2018 reorganization, the USD (R&E) assumed responsibility for administering the Small Business Innovation Research and Rapid Innovation Fund programs.

The National Security Act of 1947 and its 1949 amendments established the Department of Defense, including the establishment of two statutory boards: a Munitions Board, and a Research and Development Board. In June 1953, President Eisenhower's Reorganization Plan No. 6 abolished the boards as such, and created six new Assistant Secretaries of Defense. Two of these assistant secretary positions—Applications Engineering, and Research and Development—were combined in March 1957 to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (ASD(R&E)).

Under the DoD Reorganization Act of 1958 (PL 85-599, effective 6 August 1958), the position of ASD (R&E) was abolished and replaced by a Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E).

From 19 May 1961, until 15 July 1965, a Deputy Director of Defense Research and Engineering held the additional title of ASD(R&E), on the theory that this position reported to, in rank, an under secretary—the DDR&E. On 21 October 1977, PL 95-140 made the rank of the DDR&E unambiguous by renaming it to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD (R&E)).

The history of Department of Defense management of science and technology up to the 1980s is described at greater length in a report available from the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC).O'Neil, William D. and Gene H. Porter, “What to Buy? The Role of Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E): Lessons from the 1970s,” IDA Paper P-4675 (Alexandria, Virginia: Institute for Defense Analyses, Jan 2011) http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA549549.

The Military Retirement Reform Act of 1986 expanded the scope of USD (R&E) position to encompass acquisition and logistics, as well as technology, and it was renamed USD(AT&L). A subordinate position at the assistant secretary level was reestablished with the previous title DDR&E. However, budget control of the technology portfolio was kept by USD(AT&L), diminishing the importance of the DDR&E position subsequently.

On 7 January 2011, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act with several redesignated titles within the Department of Defense. These changes included renaming the DDR&E as, once again, ASD(R&E).[http://www.acq.osd.mil/ddre/index.html Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126215523/http://www.acq.osd.mil/ddre/index.html |date=26 November 2010 }}

On 1 February 2018, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics was split into two new offices: the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (R&E) and the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S), as a result of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2018/02/01/the-pentagons-acquisition-office-is-gone-heres-what-the-next-120-days-bring/|title=The Pentagon's acquisition office is gone. Here's what the next 120 days bring. |last=Mehta|first=Aaron|date=2 February 2018|work=Defense News|access-date=22 February 2018|language=en-US}}

The latest restructuring establishes three new Assistant Secretary of Defense positions, along with eight Deputy Assistant Secretaries of Defense, replacing the role of Deputy Chief Technology Officer.{{cite web | url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3468101/dod-establishes-assistant-secretaries-of-defense-in-the-office-of-the-under-sec/ | title=DOD Establishes Assistant Secretaries of Defense in the Office of the Under Secretary for }}

The table below includes both the various names which this position has been named over time, as well as all the holders of those various offices.{{cite web|url=http://www.dod.mil/ddre/ddre_history.htm|title=A History of the Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering|publisher=DoD|year=2009|access-date=11 April 2010}} Acting officers have a beige background.

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• {{Official website|https://www.cto.mil/}}

{{Current US Department of Defense Secretaries}}