Directory

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) agency charged with seeking breakthrough concepts and technologies with broad applicability against threats to national security.

DARPA invests primarily in the early technology development phases of programs and the demonstration of prototype systems.

DARPA works to complement the DoD CBRN Defense Program by anticipating threats and developing novel defenses against them. The agency coordinates with the services and other agencies, including the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for CBD and DTRA Chemical & Biological Technologies Directorate (DTRA-CB) to avoid duplication of efforts and to maximize effectiveness of resources.

DARPA’s programs are conducted under the oversight of six technical offices: the Defense Sciences Office, the Information Innovation Office, the Microsystems Technology Office, the Strategic Technology Office, the Tactical Technology Office, and the agency’s most recent addition, the Biological Technologies Office.

In 2014 DAPRA merged components of several program offices into a new Biotechnology Technologies Office (BTO) to foster innovations related to biological sciences. BTO’s investment portfolio goes far beyond life sciences applications in medicine to include areas of research such as human-machine interfaces, microbes as production platforms, and deep exploration of the impact of evolving ecologies and environments on U.S. readiness and capabilities.

The agency supports approximately 240 government employees, about half of whom are program managers. Its research is conducted by a wide array of public- and private-sector performers via 2,000 contracts, grants and other agreements.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is the intellectual, technical and operational leader for the US Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Strategic Command in the effort to combat biological, chemical and nuclear threats.

While the DTRA Chemical and Biological Technologies Directorate (DTRA CB) is not part of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); it is DARPA’s focal point for chemical and biological scientific and technical expertise. DTRA CB is also “dual-hatted” as the Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JSTO-CBD) under the Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP).

DTRA CB serves two key roles in support of DoD CBDP: Funds Manager and Joint Science and Technology Manager. The joint S&T management responsibilities include:

• Development and integration of S&T programs
• Programming, planning, and budgeting documentation for chemical and biological defense S&T programs
• Working with the JPEO-CBD to ensure effective transition of S&T efforts to advanced development
• Participating in Armed Services Biomedical Research Evaluation and Management (ASBRED) Committee meetings to ensure organizational coordination between medical and non-medical S&T liaisons such as DARPA, industry, academia, and other government agencies
• Support for DoD CB Defense S&T international programs
• Management and integration of CB Defense Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations

DTRA and JSTO-CBD use extramural endeavors such as Broad Agency Announcements to identify, adopt, and adapt emerging and revolutionary sciences that may demonstrate high payoff potential to counter-WMD threats. Companies with applicable novel or revolutionary concepts or products are encouraged to contact DTRA.

The DTRA International Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) works to counter threats posed by select agents, related materials, expertise, other emerging infectious disease risks, and to prevent these agents from reaching any state or non-state actors who may use them against the United States or its allies.

The CBEP mission is achieved through Biological Safety & Security capacity building; Disease Surveillance, Detection, Diagnosis, and Reporting; and Cooperative Biological Research. Through these areas CBEP aims to secure dangerous pathogens; promote open and active disease reporting and response; and advance transparent research to understanding pathogens and developing potential countermeasures. CBEP also works with partner countries to improve disease surveillance and response systems.

The U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground (DPG) serves as the chemical and biological defense proving ground for the United States. It is in a remote, closed post on nearly 800,000 acres of land in the Great Salt Lake Desert – about 85 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah.

The West Desert Test Center (WDTC) is the testing area for DPG specializing in chemical and biological defense testing. The site hosts numerous Technology Readiness Evaluations (TREs), and has been a critical partner in a number of chemical and biological programs including the Critical Reagent Program, Joint Biological Point Detection System, Joint Biological Early Warning System, and the Joint Services Lightweight Standoff Chemical Detection Program.

Areas of expertise include chemical and biological defense, smoke and obscurants, materiel and delivery systems, munitions and incendiary devices, meteorological research and modeling, environmental characterization and remediation technology testing, and technology transfer to include specialized hands-on chemical biological training for military and civil support teams.

WDTC’s divisions include:

• Chemical Test Division
• Data Management Division
• Life Sciences Division
• Meteorology Division
• Special Programs Division

DPG employs about 1,200 military, government civilians and support contractors.