Director's Office

DSO   IPTO   MTO   STO  TTO 


COMP   CMO   HRD   OMO

DARPA Technical Offices

The mission of the Defense Sciences Office is to vigorously pursue the most promising technologies within a broad spectrum of the science and engineering research communities and to develop those technologies into important, radically new military capabilities. 

The mission of the Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) is to understand the world. From sensing to cognition, IPTO brings the future of computing to the warfighter by supporting research, applied research and prototyping in the Cognitive Systems; Command and Control; Computer Language Translation; High Productivity Computing; and Sensors and Processing.

The Microsystems Technology Office mission focuses on the heterogeneous microchip-scale integration of electronics, photonics, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Their high risk/high payoff technology is aimed at solving the national level problems of protection from biological, chemical and information attack and to provide operational dominance for mobile distributed command and control, combined manned/unmanned warfare, and dynamic, adaptive military planning and execution.  

DARPA's Strategic Technology Office (STO) researches, demonstrates, develops, and transitions technologies and systems that enable strategic military operations throughout the spectrum of conflict. Investments range from the development of enabling technologies to the demonstration of integrated prototypes, with the goal of superior cost-effective assets the military can use to respond to present and emerging threats.

STO's technology thrust areas are: (1) Novel space technologies and applications, such as rapid access, space situational awareness, counterspace, and persistent tactical grade sensing approaches, to include extremely large space apertures and structures; (2) Strategic and tactical networks and communications systems; (3) Information assurance for enterprise and mobile computing platforms; (4) Countering underground facilities used for command-and-control, weapons storage and staging, and the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction; (5) Comprehensive protection systems against chemical, biological, and radiological attacks; (6) Weapons and equipment to support small unit operations; and (7) Maritime operations, to include platform improvement, littoral combat support, persistent sensing modalities, and energy at sea.

The Tactical Technology Office engages in high-risk, high-payoff advanced military research, emphasizing the "system" and "subsystem" approach to the development of aeronautic, space, and land systems as well as embedded processors and control systems.

TOP

The Office of the Comptroller is the nucleus of "corporate" fiscal activities and prepares and submits the consolidated annual Agency budget, and also manages the planning, programming, and budgeting system process. COMP develops and implements the proper procedures and controls for program execution, maintains adequate program accountability documentation, provides for liaison with the General Accounting Office and the DoD Inspector General on audit activities, and serves as the Congressional focal point for the Agency. COMP also maintains a management information system to support DARPA requirements for accurate and timely fiscal, contractual, and programmatic information services.

The Contracts Management Office plans, negotiates, and awards contracts, grants, and agreements for select new-start technology projects and for consortium and other cooperative projects where innovative contractual arrangements may be desired. CMO also administers the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

The Human Resources Directorate provides civilian and military personnel management functions, including recruitment, hiring, billet and manpower allocation, civilian pay and benefits administration, and all personnel management actions.

TOP

The Office of Management Operations provides seamless, transparent and world-class administrative, facility, information technology and security program management and services to enable DARPA’s research and development mission. OMO's program management responsibilities include DARPA's managers' internal control, records management, technical information program, public release process, facility, telecommunication, information technology, web site, commercial off-the-shelf prototyping, information assurance, and information, personnel, industrial, communications, and physical security programs. Additionally, OMO provides travel, web-site management, video-teleconferencing, correspondence, library, and supply services.

Last Updated: April 1, 2008

TOP