DTRA Research 

and Development 

Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited 

The Overall Classification of this 

Brief is Unclassified 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Organization 

Hierarchy 

Mission: The Research and 

Development Directorate provides 

science, technology, and capability 

development investments that 

maintain the U.S. military’s 

technological superiority in 

countering weapons of mass 

destruction & emerging threats, 

mitigate the risks of technical 

surprise, and respond to the 

warfighters’ urgent technical 

requirements 

Dr. Ronald Hann 

Acting Director (SES 2) 

COL Steven Sexton Ms. Amanda Richardson 

Deputy Director Chief Operations 

(GS 15) 

Mr. Steven Dowling Dr. Michael Kuliasha Dr. Gary Hook COL Timothy Greenhaw 

Counter WMD Nuclear Technologies Enabling Capabilities Chemical Biological 

Technologies (SES 2) (GS 15) Technologies 

(SES 2) Acting 

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NDS Alignment / DTRA Focus Areas 

Competition in the “Grey Zone”

 New Approaches to Conduct WMD vulnerability 

analysis to identify linkages between network 

nodes and associated “people, places, and things”

 Develop options to disrupt networks applying a 

whole of government approach 

 Develop and deliver tailored capabilities to disrupt 

networks short of armed conflict 

 Assessing/developing advanced warheads to defeat 

WMD targets with minimal collateral effects 

 Providing targeting support to Combatant 

Commands focused on WMD and on Hard and 

Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) facilities 

 Supporting Combatant Commands’ responsibilities

in conventional/nuclear targeting 

 Providing planning tools and technologies to operate 

on a contaminated battlefield 

Strong Nuclear Deterrent 

Decisive Conventional Force 

Focus: DTRA has pivoted to the 

principal tenets of the National 

Defense Strategy and has key 

roles in each. 

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Research and Development Departments 

RD-OP: Operations 

RD-CX: Counter 

WMD Technologies 

RD-EC: Enabling 

Technologies 

RD-CB: 

Chemical 

Biological 

Technologies 

RD-NT: Nuclear 

Technologies 

Warfighter 

Deliver innovative solutions 

that meet current mission 

requirements in a timely 

manner 

Anticipate and prepare for 

emerging and future threats with 

a balance of fundamental and 

applied research across the 

portfolio 

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RD-CB: Chemical Biological Technologies Department 

Prepare for Surprise 

CB has a broad mission to lead the DoD science and technology to 

anticipate, defend and safeguard against chemical and biological 

threats for the warfighter and nation. We do this by focusing on our 

three strategic priorities: Integrated early warning, Integrated 

layered defense, and Prepare for surprise 

As a department, our near-term priorities focus 

on: 

-Protecting the warfighter through medical 

countermeasure development 

- Integrated early warning 

We accomplish this through: 

- CB detection 

- Diagnostics 

- Wearable technologies 

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RD-NT: Nuclear Technologies Department 

Develop capabilities that enable an effective nuclear deterrent, integrate conventional forces to 

operate effectively in a nuclear environment, and counter nuclear threat networks 

Nuclear Survivability 

Nuclear Technologies Integration 

Nuclear Weapon Effects 

Nuclear Assessments 

Modeling & simulation tools for nuclear targeting and 

consequence of execution assessment 

Use existing test data to certify new nuclear capabilities 

without nuclear testing 

Develop tools to integrate mission impacts of nuclear 

effects into DoD wargames, exercises and training 

Develop multi mission technologies to monitor nuclear 

detonation data and signals 

Install, operate, and improve U.S.International 

Monitoring System capabilities 

Nuclear Threat Detection 

Sensors for characterization of the nuclear battlefield 

Technologies to collect, analyze, exploit, and attribute nuclear 

detonation data and signals 

Provide cloud ready nuclear modelinginterfaces 

and applications 

Deliver timely electronic access to nuclear testing 

archives 

Enable warfighter to visualize nuclear battlefield 

through integrated Common Operating Picture 

Develop nuclear environments, protection 

standards, and handbooks 

Operate large pulsed power machines to produce 

intense bursts of radiation simulating a nuclear 

weapon 

Mission critical systems analysis to characterize 

nuclear survivability shortfalls 

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RD-CX: Counter WMD Technologies Department 

Counterforce Systems 

Weapons and Capabilities 

Develop, demonstrate, and transition innovative technologies and capabilities to actively counter 

the full spectrum of CBRNE threats. 

Target Assessment Technology 

Develop, apply, and transition innovative technologies to 

characterize and assess WMD threats and Hard & Deeply Buried 

Targets (HDBTs) 

Support CCMDs through research, development, and transition 

of offensive weapons and other capabilities to combat WMD 

while mitigating collateral contamination effects 

Develop, integrate, demonstrate and transition Counter WMD 

advanced sensors, surveillance, and defeat target planning 

technologies in support of warfighter operations 

Urgent Solutions 

Develop CWMD capabilities supporting CCMDs’ ability to

harness disruptive technologies for offensive advantage in 

Great Power Competition and provide urgent capabilities 

for competition below the level of armed conflict focusing 

on Irregular Warfare to defeat WMD threats 

Advanced Research 

Couple long range fundamental and applied research with 

technology development in the physical, life, and 

computational sciences to enhance kill chain activities in 

combating emerging WMD threats 

Combating Terrorism 

Provide Combatant Commanders* improved 

offensive capabilities in support of counter 

terrorism and counter proliferation missions to 

combat weapons of mass destruction 

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RD-EC: Enabling Capabilities 

Provide innovative science and technology to enable the development, evaluation, and 

validation of capabilities for DTRA, DoD, and federal partners that maintain U.S. superiority in 

countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) and emerging threats, mitigate the risks of 

technological surprise, and respond to the warfighter’s urgent requirements 

CWMD Test and Evaluation 

Robust scientific and engineering expertise to design, 

construct and instrument threat representative WMD 

test environments. Capabilities cover the spectrum 

of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, high 

explosive and emerging threats. This mobile 

capability supports T&E efforts from development of 

initial test requirements to the final test report. 

Rapid Warfighter Assessments 

Worldwide, rapid, and independent vulnerability, 

operational, and other specialized assessment 

support for urgent warfighter requirements. 

Detailed reporting for senior decision makers to 

maintain superiority and mitigate the risks of 

technological surprise. 

Basic and Innovative Research 

Serves the warfighter through innovation and 

discovery in the basic sciences to reduce the 

threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) 

and grow the next generation scientific workforce 

to lead the fight against mankind’s most 

dangerous weapons. Strategic investment in basic 

research will lead to the scientific breakthroughs 

needed for future WMD threat reduction. 

DTRA Experimental Laboratory 

(DEL) and HPC 

DEL supports computer hardware and software R&D to 

counter WMD and emerging threats, as well as 24/7 

support to DTRA Reachback capability. HPC provides 

computational resources that enable numerical modeling 

and simulation in support of the Agency mission by 

providing access to the DoD High Performance 

Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) and its five 

DoD Supercomputing Resource Centers. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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RD-OP: RD Operations Department 

Operations is a strategic enabler to improve HOW we do 

our work in RD – working smarter, not harder. We leverage 

Technical Reach back, CWMD Information Integration, 

Strategic Engagements, Requirements and Acquisition 

support across the Directorate. Operations works to best 

leverage resources to drive Directorate success by 

providing technical and operational expertise across RD. 

Technical Reachback 

Combatant Command Customers Service Customers International 

Engagements 

End to End Support: 

Requirements, to Acquisition, 

to Transition and Fielding 

Advanced Data 

Science Tools for RD’s

Mission 

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How We Work Together (for Performers) 

How We Can Help You 

• Ensure that DTRA understands how your capabilities/developments are relevant to the 

CWMD fight 

• Help push new capabilities to interested stakeholders (e.g., organize tech demos with 

government sponsors together) 

• Collaborate with international/interagency partners as appropriate 

• Develop/Shape/Access DTRA and partner contract vehicles when possible 

How You Can Help Us 

• Facilitate introductions to your government sponsors with similar capability requirements 

or development work (i.e. matchmaker) 

• Share information: let us know where DTRA can share DTRA-sponsored capability 

development with other government sponsors and where DTRA can leverage work 

sponsored by other government entities 

• Let DTRA know if you have the ability to work with the international community or have 

ITAR-approved products 10
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RD Directorate Future Requirements 

• Four Annual R&D Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs)* 

• Strategic Trends (End Feb 2025) 

• Research and Development Innovations – TRL 3-7 (End Feb 2027)* 

• New Initiatives for Nuclear Detection Technologies (End Dec 2024) 

• Fundamental Research to Counter WMD – Basic Research in Chem/Bio (End Sept 2024) 

• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 

Programs* 

• CWMD R&D Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract* (current) 

• 10 year effort with 6 Prime Contractors and over 150 Sub-Contractors 

• Current total awards $1.6 Billion encompassing all aspects of DTRA CWMD R&D 

• CWMD R&D IDIQ Contract* (pending solicitation and award) 

• Comprised of 3 overarching Mission Pools to provide more tailored and focused 

development 

• Planned award – Nov/Dec 2022 

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* Further information on R&D Solicitations can be found at https://sam.gov/ 
RD Summary 

• DoD’s sole R&D organization focused only on CWMD and 

emerging threats 

• Conduct unique and essential CWMD and emerging threat 

technology development, test, and assessment efforts 

• Integrated and coordinated portfolio leverages DoD, Interagency, 

and international partners to provide support to our warfighters 

• Comprehensive R&D investment increases agility to respond to 

new/changing Combatant Command requirements and national 

and DoD CWMD priorities 

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