Defense Sciences Office

The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) works to identify and create the next generation of scientific discovery to fuel innovation throughout the Agency and beyond. DSO develops and manages an aggressive and forward-leaning portfolio that expands the art of the possible across a broad set of technical areas. By pushing science toward fundamental operational limits, our programs create a strategic advantage for the DOD. Our work is global in scale, as we monitor and drive the technological landscape and potential impacts on our military and our nation. The DSO portfolio ranges from early idea development and scientific validation to prototype demonstration. Our primary solicitation mechanisms include Advanced Research Concepts (early idea scouting), Disruption Opportunities (validation of scientific and technical challenges), and Broad Area Announcements (capability demonstrations).