ARO

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory's Army Research Office (ARO) mission is to serve as the Army's principal extramural basic research agency in the engineering, physical, information and life sciences; developing and exploiting innovative advances to insure the Nation's technological superiority. Basic research proposals from educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private industry are competitively selected and funded. ARO's research mission represents the most long-range Army view for changes in its technology. ARO priorities fully integrate Army-wide, long-range planning for research, development, and acquisition. ARO executes its mission through conduct of an aggressive basic science research program on behalf of the Army so that cutting-edge scientific discoveries and the general store of scientific knowledge will be optimally used to develop and improve weapons systems that establish land force dominance. The ARO research program consists principally of extramural academic research efforts consisting of single investigator efforts, university-affiliated research centers, and specially tailored outreach programs. Each approach has its own objectives and set of advantages. Programs are formulated in consultation with the Army Research Laboratory Directorates; the Research, Development and Engineering Command's Research, Development and Engineering Centers; the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command; the Army Corps of Engineers; and the Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. The programs are also jointly coordinated and planned through the Defense Science and Technology Reliance process under the Basic Research Panel.

AFOSR

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research’s (AFOSR) plans, coordinates, and executes the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) basic research program in response to technical guidance from AFRL and requirements of the Air Force.  It's primary mission is to support the Air Force goals of control and maximum utilization of air, space, and cyberspace.  AFOSR accomplishes its mission by investing in basic research efforts for the Air Force in relevant scientific areas. Central to AFOSR's strategy is the transfer of the fruits of basic research to industry, the supplier of Air Force acquisitions; to the academic community which can lead the way to still more accomplishment; and to the other directorates of AFRL that carry the responsibility for applied and development research leading to acquisition.

The focus of AFOSR is on research areas that offer significant and comprehensive benefits to our national warfighting and peacekeeping capabilities.  These areas are organized and managed in four scientific divisions:

Engineering and Complex Systems
Leads the discovery and development of the fundamental and integrated science that advances future air and space flight.

Information and Networks
Leads the discovery and development of foundational issues in mathematical, information and network oriented sciences

Physical Sciences
Leads the discovery and transition of foundational physical science to enable air, space, and cyber power.

Chemistry and Biological Sciences
Leads the discovery and development of innovative fundamental science addressing a broad spectrum of energy-related issues.
​

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

Office of Research: The Office of Research portfolio makes broad investments in basic and applied research that will increase fundamental knowledge, foster opportunities for breakthroughs and provide technology options for future naval capabilities and systems. Office of Research programs nurture creativity and seek a balance between risk, opportunity and potential naval impact.

Office of Technology:   Transition of technologies to the fleet and acquisition are top priorities. ONR emphasizes transition centric programs and methodologies under the Office of Technology including efforts covering manufacturing methods used to build naval warfare systems, programs that stimulate advantageous government-industry partnerships, and an investment portfolio focusing on requirements pull by the fleet and acquisition.

Research priorities identified in the Naval Research and Development Framework align the Office of Naval Research's science and technology investments across six Integrated Research Portfolios (IRPs), listed below.

Enables strategically agile and tactically flexible Marine Air Ground Task Forces with naval capability to project power to and from the littorals and conduct operations ashore.