Addressing Future Technology Challenges through Innovation and Investment

America has enjoyed more than a half century as a superpower, much of which as the lone world superpower. For better or worse, this position has been underpinned by its technological superiority and ability to deter significant challenge. In recent years, (potential) adversaries have eroded America#65533;s technological advantage through massive investment, while at the same time U.S. research and development (RD) budgets have been shrinking. The necessity to maintain technological supremacy despite fiscal constraints requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to re-examine its policy and practices towards RD. America can no longer afford to throw massive amounts of money at innovation, especially without some assurance of return on investment. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has, since its inception, made a science out of innovation and advancing the state-of-the-art. The DOD as a whole would greatly benefit from studying DARPA#65533;s best practices and motis operendai.