Engineering and National Security

Engineering and National Security

Scientific leadership and technological prowess are key elements of national power and national security for the U.S. and for other nations. Today, roughly half of U.S. government funded research and development is provided in support of national security missions.  This research coupled with that supported by the private sector and by others enables the government to make informed assessments, to develop and deploy defensive technology and systems, and to undergird effective offensive systems.  Approaches for reaping national security benefits from discovery science, applied research, and innovation together with an overview of some relevant institutions, career paths, and key engineering challenges will be described.