Federally funded research and development centers
List
Table:
Facility
Administrator
Location
Sponsor

Aerospace FFRDC

The Aerospace Corporation

El Segundo, CA;
Chantilly, VA;
Colorado Springs, CO
Huntsville, AL
Albuquerque, NM

Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force

Ames Laboratory

Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Ames, IA

Department of Energy

Argonne National Laboratory

UChicago Argonne, LLC

Argonne, IL

Department of Energy

Arroyo Center

RAND Corporation

Santa Monica, CA

Department of Defense, Department of the Army

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC

Upton, NY

Department of Energy

Center for Advanced Aviation System Development

MITRE

McLean, VA

Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration

Center for Communications and Computing

Institute for Defense Analyses

Alexandria, VA

Department of Defense, National Security Agency

Center for Enterprise Modernization

MITRE

McLean, VA

Department of the Treasury, Department of Veterans Affairs, Internal Revenue Service

Center for Naval Analyses

The CNA Corporation

Arlington, VA

Department of Defense, Department of the Navy

Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses

Southwest Research Institute

San Antonio, TX

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

CMS Alliance to Modernize Healthcare

MITRE

McLean, VA

United States Department of Health and Human Services

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Fermi Research Alliance, LLC

Batavia, IL

Department of Energy

Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

Leidos Biomedical Research

Frederick, MD

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health

Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center

RAND Corporation

Crystal City, VA

Department of Homeland Security, Under Secretary for Science and Technology

Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute

MITRE

McLean, VA

Department of Homeland Security, Under Secretary for Science and Technology

Idaho National Laboratory

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC

Idaho Falls, ID

Department of Energy

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Judiciary Engineering and Modernization Center

MITRE

McLean, VA

United States Courts

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

University of California

Berkeley, CA

Department of Energy

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC

Livermore, CA

Department of Energy

With reference to the given table as well as the passages provided at the end.

Respond to the question below: In what city is the administrator of the facility that provides objective technical analyses and assessments for space programs that serve the national interest located ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

The Aerospace Corporation is an American California nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center ( FFRDC ) headquartered in El Segundo , California . The corporation provides technical guidance and advice on all aspects of space missions to military , civil , and commercial customers . As the FFRDC for national-security space , Aerospace works closely with organizations such as the United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center ( SMC ) and the National Reconnaissance Office ( NRO ) to provide objective technical analyses and assessments for space programs that serve the national interest . Although SMC and NRO are the primary customers , Aerospace also performs work for civil agencies as well as international organizations and governments in the national interest .
El Segundo /səˈɡʌndoʊ/ is a city in Los Angeles County , California , United States . El Segundo , from Spanish , means The Second . Located on the Santa Monica Bay , it was incorporated on January 18 , 1917 , and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments . The population was 16,654 at the 2010 census , slightly up from 16,033 at the 2000 census .
Chantilly is a census-designated place ( CDP ) in western Fairfax County , Virginia , United States . The population was 23,039 at the 2010 census . Chantilly is named after an early-19th-century mansion and farm , which in turn took the name of an 18th-century plantation that was located in Westmoreland County , Virginia . The name Chantilly originated in France with the Château de Chantilly , about 25 miles north of Paris . Located in the Northern Virginia portion of the Washington metropolitan area , Chantilly sits approximately 25 miles ( 40 km ) west of Washington , D.C. , via Interstate 66 and U.S. Route 50 . It is located between Centreville to the south , Herndon and Reston to the north and northeast , respectively , and Fairfax 7 miles ( 11 km ) to the southeast . U.S. Route 50 and Virginia State Route 28 intersect in Chantilly , and these highways provide access to the Dulles/Reston/Tysons Corner technology corridor and other major employment centers in Northern Virginia and Washington , D.C .
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality that is the largest city by area in Colorado as well as the county seat and the most populous municipality of El Paso County , Colorado , United States . It is in east central Colorado , on Fountain Creek , 60 miles ( 97 km ) south of Denver . At 6,035 feet ( 1,839 m ) the city stands over 1 mile ( 1.6 km ) above sea level , though some areas are significantly higher and lower . Colorado Springs is near the base of Pikes Peak , which rises 14,115 feet ( 4,302 m ) above sea level on the eastern edge of the Southern Rocky Mountains . The United States Air Force Academy opened just north of Colorado Springs in 1958 . The city is home to 24 national sports governing bodies , including the United States Olympic Committee , the United States Olympic Training Center , and USA Hockey . The city had an estimated population of 472,688 in 2018 , and a metro population of approximately 738,939 , making it Colorado 's second most populous city , behind Denver , and the 39th most populous city in the United States . The Colorado Springs , CO Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated population of 712,327 in 2016 . The city is in the Front Range Urban Corridor , an oblong region of urban population along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Wyoming , generally following Interstate 25 . The city covers 194.9 square miles ( 505 km2 ) , making it the most extensive municipality in Colorado . In 2017 and 2018 , Colorado Springs received several accolades . In 2018 U.S. News named it the most desirable place to live in the United States .
Huntsville is a city in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama . It is the county seat of Madison County but extends west into neighboring Limestone County and south into Morgan County . It was founded in 1805 and became an incorporated town in 1811 . The city grew across nearby hills north of the Tennessee River , adding textile mills , then munitions factories , NASA 's Marshall Space Flight Center and the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command nearby at the Redstone Arsenal . The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Huntsville to its America 's Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2010 list . The city 's population was 180,105 in 2010 , making it Alabama 's fourth-largest city . Huntsville is the largest city in the five-county Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville , AL Combined Statistical Area . The Huntsville metropolitan area 's population was 417,593 in 2010 , making it the second most populous metropolitan area in the state . The Huntsville metro 's population reached 462,693 by 2018 .
Albuquerque ( /ˈælbəkɜːrki/ ( listen ) AL-bə-kur-kee ; Navajo : Beeʼeldííl Dahsinil [ pèːʔèltíːl tɑ̀xsɪ̀nɪ̀l ] ; Eastern Keres : Arawageeki ; Jemez : Vakêêke ; Zuni : Alo : ke : k'ya ; Jicarilla Apache : Gołgéeki'yé ) , abbreviated as ABQ , is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico , and the 32nd-most populous city in the United States . The city 's nicknames are The Duke City and Burque , both of which reference its 1706 founding by Nuevo México governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés as La Villa de Alburquerque , named in honor of then Viceroy the 10th Duke of Alburquerque , the Villa was an outpost on El Camino Real for the Tiquex and Hispano towns in the area ( such as Barelas , Corrales , Isleta Pueblo , Los Ranchos , and Sandia Pueblo ) . Since the city 's founding it has continued to be included on travel and trade routes including Santa Fe Railway ( ATSF ) , Route 66 , Interstate 25 , Interstate 40 , and the Albuquerque International Sunport . The population census-estimated population of the city as 560,218 in 2018 , it is the principal city of the Albuquerque metropolitan area , which has 915,927 residents as of July 2018 . The metropolitan population includes Rio Rancho , Bernalillo , Placitas , Zia Pueblo , Los Lunas , Belen , South Valley , Bosque Farms , Jemez Pueblo , Cuba , and part of Laguna Pueblo . This metro is included in the larger Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas combined statistical area , with a population of 1,171,991 as of 2016 . The CSA constitutes the southernmost point of the Southern Rocky Mountain Front megalopolis , including other major Rocky Mountain region cities such as Cheyenne , Wyoming , and Denver , Colorado , with a population of 5,467,633 according to the 2010 United States Census . Albuquerque serves as the county seat of Bernalillo County , and is in north-central New Mexico . The Sandia Mountains run along the eastern side of Albuquerque , and the Rio Grande flows north to south through its center , while the West Mesa and Petroglyph National Monument make up the western part of the city . Albuquerque has one of the highest elevations of any major city in the U.S. , ranging from 4,900 feet ( 1,490 m ) above sea level near the Rio Grande to over 6,700 feet ( 1,950 m ) in the foothill areas of Sandia Heights and Glenwood Hills . The civic apex is found in an undeveloped area within the Albuquerque Open Space ; there , the terrain rises to an elevation of approximately 6880+ feet ( 2,097 m ) . The economy of Albuquerque centers on science , medicine , technology , commerce , education , entertainment , and culture outlets .
The United States Department of Defense ( DoD , USDOD or DOD ) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national security and the United States Armed Forces . The DoD is the largest employer in the world , with nearly 1.3 million active-duty service members ( soldiers , marines , sailors and airmen ) as of 2016 . More employees include over 826,000 National Guard and Reservists from the armed forces , and over 732,000 civilians bringing the total to over 2.8 million employees . Headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington , Virginia , just outside Washington , D.C. , the DoD 's stated mission is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation 's security . The Department of Defense is headed by the Secretary of Defense , a cabinet-level head who reports directly to the President of the United States . Beneath the Department of Defense are three subordinate military departments : the Department of the Army , the Department of the Navy , and the Department of the Air Force . In addition , four national intelligence services are subordinate to the Department of Defense : the Defense Intelligence Agency ( DIA ) , the National Security Agency ( NSA ) , the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency ( NGA ) , and the National Reconnaissance Office ( NRO ) . Other Defense agencies include the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA ) , the Strategic Capabilities Office ( SCO ) , the Defense Logistics Agency ( DLA ) , the Missile Defense Agency ( MDA ) , the Defense Health Agency ( DHA ) , Defense Threat Reduction Agency ( DTRA ) , the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency ( formerly the DSS ) , and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency ( PFPA ) , all of which are subordinate to the Secretary of Defense . Additionally , the Defense Contract Management Agency ( DCMA ) delivers actionable acquisition intelligence , from factory floor to the warfighter . Military operations are managed by eleven regional or functional Unified combatant commands . The Department of Defense also operates several joint services schools , including the Eisenhower School ( ES ) and the National War College ( NWC ) .
The Department of the Air Force ( DAF ) is one of the three Military Departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America . The Department of the Air Force was formed on September 18 , 1947 , per the National Security Act of 1947 and it includes all elements and units of the United States Air Force ( USAF ) and the United States Space Force ( USSF ) . The Department of the Air Force is headed by the Secretary of the Air Force ( SAF/OS ) , a civilian , who has the authority to conduct all of its affairs , subject to the authority , direction and control of the Secretary of Defense . The Secretary of the Air Force 's principal deputy is the Under Secretary of the Air Force ( SAF/US ) . Their senior staff assistants in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force are four Assistant Secretaries for Acquisition , Financial Management & Comptroller , Installations , Environment & Logistics , Manpower & Reserve Affairs and a General Counsel . The highest-ranking military officers in the Department , and senior military advisers to the secretary , are the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations . By direction of the Secretary of Defense , the Secretary of the Air Force assigns Air Force units - apart from those units performing duties enumerated in 10 U.S.C . § 8013 unless otherwise directed - to the combatant commands . Only the Secretary of Defense and the President have the authority to approve transfer of forces between combatant commands .
Ames Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory located in Ames , Iowa and affiliated with Iowa State University . This is a top level national laboratory for new research in various domains concerning national security and resource management . The Laboratory conducts research into various areas of national concern , including the synthesis and study of new materials , energy resources , high-speed computer design , and environmental cleanup and restoration . It is located on the campus of Iowa State University . In January 2013 the Department of Energy announced the establishment of the Critical Materials Institute ( CMI ) at Ames Laboratory , with a mission to develop solutions to the domestic shortages of rare-earth metals and other materials critical for U.S. energy security .
Iowa State University of Science and Technology ( Iowa State ) is a public land-grant and space-grant research university in Ames , Iowa . It is the largest university in the state of Iowa and the third largest university in the Big 12 athletic conference . Iowa State is classified among R1 : Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity . It is also a member of the Association of American Universities ( AAU ) . Founded in 1858 and coeducational from its start , Iowa State became the nation 's first designated land-grant institution when the Iowa Legislature accepted the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act on September 11 , 1862 , making Iowa the first state in the nation to do so . Iowa State 's academic offerings are administered today through eight colleges , including the graduate college , that offer over 100 bachelor 's degree programs , 112 master 's degree programs , and 83 at the Ph.D. level , plus a professional degree program in Veterinary Medicine . Iowa State University 's athletic teams , the Cyclones , compete in Division I of the NCAA and are a founding member of the Big 12 . The Cyclones field 16 varsity teams and have won numerous NCAA national championships .
Ames ( /eɪmz/ ) is a city in Story County , Iowa , United States approximately 30 miles ( 48 km ) north of Des Moines in central Iowa . It is best known as the home of Iowa State University ( ISU ) , with leading Agriculture , Design , Engineering , and Veterinary Medicine colleges . A United States Department of Energy national laboratory , Ames Laboratory , is located on the ISU campus . In 2017 , Ames had a population of 66,498 . Iowa State University is home to 36,321 students ( Fall 2017 ) , which make up approximately one half of the city 's population . Ames also hosts United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) sites : the largest federal animal disease center in the United States , USDA 's Agricultural Research Service 's National Animal Disease Center ( NADC ) . , as well as , one of two national USDA sites for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ( APHIS ) , which comprises the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and the Center for Veterinary Biologics . Ames has the headquarters for the Iowa Department of Transportation . In 2010 , Ames was ranked ninth on CNNMoney 's Best Places to Live list .
The United States Department of Energy ( DOE ) is a cabinet-level department of the United States Government concerned with the United States ' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material . Its responsibilities include the nation 's nuclear weapons program , nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy , energy conservation , energy-related research , radioactive waste disposal , and domestic energy production . It also directs research in genomics ; the Human Genome Project originated in a DOE initiative . DOE sponsors more research in the physical sciences than any other U.S. federal agency , the majority of which is conducted through its system of National Laboratories . The agency is administered by the United States Secretary of Energy , and its headquarters are located in Southwest Washington , D.C. , on Independence Avenue in the James V. Forrestal Building , named for James Forrestal , as well as in Germantown , Maryland . Dan Brouillette is the Secretary of Energy as of December 11 , 2019 .
Argonne National Laboratory is a science and engineering research national laboratory operated by the University of Chicago Argonne LLC for the United States Department of Energy located in Lemont , Illinois , outside Chicago . It is the largest national laboratory by size and scope in the Midwest . Argonne was initially formed to carry out Enrico Fermi 's work on nuclear reactors as part of the Manhattan Project , and it was designated as the first national laboratory in the United States on July 1 , 1946 . In the post-war era the lab focused primarily on non-weapon related nuclear physics , designing and building the first power-producing nuclear reactors , helping design the reactors used by the USA 's nuclear navy , and a wide variety of similar projects . In 1994 , the lab 's nuclear mission ended , and today it maintains a broad portfolio in basic science research , energy storage and renewable energy , environmental sustainability , supercomputing , and national security . UChicago Argonne , LLC , the operator of the laboratory , brings together the expertise of the University of Chicago ( the sole member of the LLC ) with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. Argonne is a part of the expanding Illinois Technology and Research Corridor . Argonne formerly ran a smaller facility called Argonne National Laboratory-West ( or simply Argonne-West ) in Idaho next to the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory . In 2005 , the two Idaho-based laboratories merged to become the Idaho National Laboratory .
The University of Chicago ( UChicago , U of C , or Chicago ) is a private research university in Chicago , Illinois . Founded in 1890 , the school is located on a 217-acre ( 88-hectare ) campus in Chicago 's Hyde Park neighborhood , near Lake Michigan . The University of Chicago holds top positions in various national and international rankings . The university is composed of the undergraduate college as well as various graduate programs and interdisciplinary committees organized into five academic research divisions . Beyond the arts and sciences , Chicago is also well known for its professional schools , which include the Pritzker School of Medicine , the Booth School of Business , the Law School , the School of Social Service Administration , the Harris School of Public Policy Studies , the Divinity School and the Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies , as well as the recently launched Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering . The university has additional campuses and centers in London , Paris , Beijing , Delhi , and Hong Kong , as well as in downtown Chicago . University of Chicago scholars have played a major role in the development of many academic disciplines , including economics , law , literary criticism , mathematics , religion , sociology , and the behavioralism school of political science , establishing the Chicago schools in various fields . Chicago 's Metallurgical Laboratory produced the world 's first man-made , self-sustaining nuclear reaction in Chicago Pile-1 beneath the viewing stands of the university 's Stagg Field . The university research efforts include administration of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory , as well as the Marine Biological Laboratory . The university is also home to the University of Chicago Press , the largest university press in the United States . The Barack Obama Presidential Center is expected to be housed at the university and include both the Obama presidential library and offices of the Obama Foundation . The university is also home to Frank Lloyd Wright 's Robie House , a World Heritage Site .
Downers Grove Township is one of nine townships in DuPage County , Illinois , USA . As of the 2010 census , its population was 146,795 and it contained 60,438 housing units . It is the largest township in the county , both in terms of area and population .
RAND Corporation ( Research ANd Development ) is an American nonprofit global policy think tank created in 1948 by Douglas Aircraft Company to offer research and analysis to the United States Armed Forces . It is financed by the U.S. government and private endowment , corporations , universities and private individuals . The company has grown to assist other governments , international organizations , private companies and foundations , with a host of defense and non-defense issues , including healthcare . RAND aims for interdisciplinary and quantitative problem solving by translating theoretical concepts from formal economics and the physical sciences into novel applications in other areas , using applied science and operations research .
Santa Monica ( Spanish : Santa Mónica ; Spanish for Saint Monica ) is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County , California , United States . Situated on Santa Monica Bay , it is bordered on three sides by the city of Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades to the north , Brentwood on the northeast , West Los Angeles on the east , Mar Vista on the southeast , and Venice on the south . The 2010 U.S. Census population was 89,736 . Due in part to an agreeable climate , Santa Monica became a famed resort town by the early 20th century . The city has experienced a boom since the late 1980s through the revitalization of its downtown core , significant job growth and increased tourism . The Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park remain popular destinations .
The Department of the Army ( DA ) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America . The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency within which the United States Army is organized , and it is led by the Secretary of the Army , who has statutory authority under 10 U.S.C . § 3013 to conduct its affairs and to prescribe regulations for its government , subject to the limits of the law , and the directions of the Secretary of Defense and the President . The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate . The highest-ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Army , who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Other senior officials of the Department are the Under Secretary of the Army ( principal deputy to the Secretary ) and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army ( principal deputy to the Chief of Staff . ) The Department of War was originally formed in 1789 as an Executive Department of the United States , and was split by the National Security Act of 1947 into the Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force on September 18 , 1947 . By amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 in 1949 , the Department of the Army was transformed to its present-day status .
Brookhaven National Laboratory ( BNL ) is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory located in Upton , New York , on Long Island , and was formally established in 1947 at the site of Camp Upton , a former U.S. Army base . Its name stems from its location within the Town of Brookhaven , approximately 60 miles east of New York City . Research at BNL specializes in nuclear and high energy physics , energy science and technology , environmental and bioscience , nanoscience and national security . The 5,300 acre campus contains several large research facilities , including the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and National Synchrotron Light Source II . Seven Nobel prizes have been awarded for work conducted at Brookhaven lab .
Upton , New York is a hamlet and census-designated place ( CDP ) on Long Island in the town of Brookhaven . It is the home of the Brookhaven National Laboratory and a National Weather Service weather forecast office . Upton is located on eastern Long Island in Suffolk County , New York , in the United States . The town is so named because it was the site of the U.S. Army 's Camp Upton , which was active from 1917 until 1920 , and again from 1940 until 1946 . During World War II , the camp was rebuilt primarily as an induction center for draftees . The Army was later to use the site as a convalescent and rehabilitation hospital for returning wounded . The 32 megawatt ( MW ) Long Island Solar Farm ( LISF ) , located in Upton , is the largest photovoltaic array in the eastern United States . The LISF is made up of 164,312 solar panels which provide enough electricity for roughly 4,500 households . The project will cause the abatement of more than 30,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year . It earned the Best Photovoltaic Project of Year Award from the New York Solar Energy Industries Association . Since October 1993 , Upton has been the home of the National Weather Service New York City Weather Forecast Office ( WFO code OKX ) , which serves the New York metropolitan area . It is located on the grounds of Brookhaven National Laboratory .
The Mitre Corporation ( stylized as The MITRE Corporation and MITRE ) is an American not-for-profit organization based in Bedford , Massachusetts , and McLean , Virginia . It manages federally funded research and development centers ( FFRDCs ) supporting several U.S. government agencies .
McLean ( /məˈkleɪn/ mə-KLAYN ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place ( CDP ) in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia . McLean is home to many diplomats , businesspeople , members of Congress , and high-ranking government officials partially due to its proximity to Washington , D.C. and the Central Intelligence Agency . It is the location of Hickory Hill , the former home of Ethel Kennedy , the widow of Robert F. Kennedy . It is also the location of Salona , the former home of Light-Horse Harry Lee , the Revolutionary War hero . The community had an estimated total population of 53,673 in 2015 , according to estimates prepared by the United States Census Bureau . It is located between the Potomac River and the town of Vienna . McLean is often distinguished by its luxury homes and its nearby high-profit shopping destinations : the Tysons Corner Center and the Tysons Galleria . The two McLean zip codes - 22101 and 22102 - are among the most expensive ZIP Codes in Virginia and the United States . In 2018 , data from the American Community Survey revealed that McLean was the 3rd wealthiest city in the United States , based on its poverty rate of 2.6% and its median household income of $ 190,258 .
The United States Department of Transportation ( USDOT or DOT ) is a federal Cabinet department of the U.S. government concerned with transportation . It was established by an act of Congress on October 15 , 1966 , and began operation on April 1 , 1967 . It is governed by the United States Secretary of Transportation .
The Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) is a governmental body of the United States with powers to regulate all aspects of civil aviation in that nation as well as over its surrounding international waters . Its powers include the construction and operation of airports , air traffic management , the certification of personnel and aircraft , and the protection of U.S. assets during the launch or re-entry of commercial space vehicles . Powers over neighboring international waters were delegated to the FAA by authority of the International Civil Aviation Organization . Created in August 1958 , the FAA replaced the former Civil Aeronautics Administration ( CAA ) and later became an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation .
The Institute for Defense Analyses ( IDA ) is an American non-profit corporation that administers three federally funded research and development centers ( FFRDCs ) - the Systems and Analyses Center ( SAC ) , the Science and Technology Policy Institute ( STPI ) , and the Center for Communications and Computing ( C & C ) - to assist the United States government in addressing national security issues , particularly those requiring scientific and technical expertise . It is headquartered in Alexandria , Virginia .
The Institute for Defense Analyses ( IDA ) is an American non-profit corporation that administers three federally funded research and development centers ( FFRDCs ) - the Systems and Analyses Center ( SAC ) , the Science and Technology Policy Institute ( STPI ) , and the Center for Communications and Computing ( C & C ) - to assist the United States government in addressing national security issues , particularly those requiring scientific and technical expertise . It is headquartered in Alexandria , Virginia .
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States . As of the 2010 census , the population was 139,966 , and in 2018 , the population was estimated to be 160,530 . Located along the western bank of the Potomac River , Alexandria is approximately 7 miles ( 11 km ) south of downtown Washington , D.C. Like the rest of Northern Virginia , as well as Central Maryland , modern Alexandria has been influenced by its proximity to the U.S. capital . It is largely populated by professionals working in the federal civil service , in the U.S. military , or for one of the many private companies which contract to provide services to the federal government . One of Alexandria 's largest employers is the U.S. Department of Defense . Another is the Institute for Defense Analyses . In 2005 , the United States Patent and Trademark Office moved to Alexandria , and in 2017 , so did the headquarters of the National Science Foundation . The historic center of Alexandria is known as Old Town . With its concentration of boutiques , restaurants , antique shops and theaters , it is a major draw for all who live in Alexandria as well for visitors . Like Old Town , many Alexandria neighborhoods are compact and walkable . It is the 7th largest and highest-income independent city in Virginia . A large portion of adjacent Fairfax County , mostly south but also west of the city , is also referred to as Alexandria , and has Alexandria , Virginia , mailing addresses , but it is under the jurisdiction of Fairfax County 's government and separate from the independent city .
The National Security Agency ( NSA ) is a national-level intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense , under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence . The NSA is responsible for global monitoring , collection , and processing of information and data for foreign and domestic intelligence and counterintelligence purposes , specializing in a discipline known as signals intelligence ( SIGINT ) . The NSA is also tasked with the protection of U.S. communications networks and information systems . The NSA relies on a variety of measures to accomplish its mission , the majority of which are clandestine . Originating as a unit to decipher coded communications in World War II , it was officially formed as the NSA by President Harry S. Truman in 1952 . Since then , it has become the largest of the U.S. intelligence organizations in terms of personnel and budget . The NSA currently conducts worldwide mass data collection and has been known to physically bug electronic systems as one method to this end . The NSA is also alleged to have been behind such attack software as Stuxnet , which severely damaged Iran 's nuclear program . The NSA , alongside the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) , maintains a physical presence in many countries across the globe ; the CIA/NSA joint Special Collection Service ( a highly classified intelligence team ) inserts eavesdropping devices in high value targets ( such as Presidential palaces or embassies ) . SCS collection tactics allegedly encompass close surveillance , burglary , wiretapping , [ and ] breaking and entering . Unlike the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency ( DIA ) , both of which specialize primarily in foreign human espionage , the NSA does not publicly conduct human-source intelligence gathering . The NSA is entrusted with providing assistance to , and the coordination of , SIGINT elements for other government organizations - which are prevented by law from engaging in such activities on their own .
The Department of the Treasury ( USDT ) is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government . Established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue , the Treasury prints all paper currency and mints all coins in circulation through the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the United States Mint , respectively ; collects all federal taxes through the Internal Revenue Service ; manages U.S. government debt instruments ; licenses and supervises banks and thrift institutions ; and advises the legislative and executive branches on matters of fiscal policy . [ citation needed ] The Department is administered by the Secretary of the Treasury , who is a member of the Cabinet . The Treasurer of the United States has limited statutory duties , but advises the Secretary on various matters such as coinage and currency production . Signatures of both officials appear on all Federal Reserve notes . The first Secretary of the Treasury was Alexander Hamilton , sworn into office on September 11 , 1789 . Hamilton was appointed by President George Washington on the recommendation of Robert Morris , Washington 's first choice for the position , who had declined the appointment . Hamilton established - almost singlehandedly - the nation 's early financial system and for several years was a major presence in Washington 's administration . [ citation needed ] His portrait appears on the obverse of the ten-dollar bill , while the Treasury Department building is depicted on the reverse . The current Secretary of the Treasury is Steven Mnuchin , who was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 13 , 2017 . Jovita Carranza , appointed on April 28 , 2017 , was the incumbent treasurer , until January 15 , 2020 , when she left the office . It is currently vacant .
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs ( VA ) is a federal Cabinet-level agency that provides near-comprehensive healthcare services to eligible military veterans at VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country ; several non-healthcare benefits including disability compensation , vocational rehabilitation , education assistance , home loans , and life insurance ; and provides burial and memorial benefits to eligible veterans and family members at 135 national cemeteries . While veterans benefits have been provided since the American Revolutionary War , an exclusively veteran-focused federal agency , the Veterans Administration , was not established until 1930 , and became the cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989 . The VA employs 377,805 people at hundreds of Veterans Affairs medical facilities , clinics , benefits offices , and cemeteries . In Fiscal Year 2016 ( 1 Oct 2015 - 30 September 2016 ) , net program costs for the department were $ 273 billion , which includes VBA Actuarial Cost of $ 106.5 billion for compensation benefits . The long-term actuarial accrued liability ( total estimated future payments for veterans and their family members ) is $ 2.491 trillion for compensation benefits ; $ 59.6 billion for education benefits ; and $ 4.6 billion for burial benefits . The agency is led by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs , who - being a cabinet member - is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate . In May 2014 , it was revealed that veterans experienced extended delays in getting care at the Veterans Health Administration , and an investigation found that VA personnel falsified scheduling data to make it seem as if they had met scheduling targets .
The Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) is the revenue service of the United States federal government . The government agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury , and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue , who is appointed to a five-year term by the President of the United States . The IRS is responsible for collecting taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code , the main body of federal statutory tax law of the United States . The duties of the IRS include providing tax assistance to taxpayers and pursuing and resolving instances of erroneous or fraudulent tax filings . The IRS has also overseen various benefits programs , and enforces portions of the Affordable Care Act .
CNA , formerly known as the CNA Corporation , is a nonprofit research and analysis organization based in Arlington County , Virginia . CNA has around 625 employees .
CNA , formerly known as the CNA Corporation , is a nonprofit research and analysis organization based in Arlington County , Virginia . CNA has around 625 employees .
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia , often referred to simply as Arlington or Arlington , Virginia . The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia , of which it was once a part . The county is coterminous with the U.S. Census Bureau 's census-designated place of Arlington . Arlington is considered to be the second-largest principal city of the Washington metropolitan area . In 2018 , the county 's population was estimated at 237,521 , making Arlington the sixth-largest county in Virginia by population ; if it were incorporated as a city , would be the fourth-most populous city in the state . With a land area of 26 square miles ( 67 km2 ) , Arlington is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the U.S. , and by reason of state law regarding population density , it has no incorporated towns within its borders . It is the 5th highest-income county in the U.S. by median family income . Due to the county 's proximity to downtown Washington , D.C. , Arlington is home to the Pentagon , Reagan National Airport , and Arlington National Cemetery . In academia , the county contains George Mason University 's Antonin Scalia Law School , the administrative offices buildings and graduate programs for the Schar School of Policy and Government and School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution , as well as satellite campuses of the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech . It will soon house the co-headquarters of Amazon.com , Inc .
The United States Department of the Navy was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798 ( initiated by the recommendation of James McHenry ) , to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy , the United States Marine Corps ( from 1834 onward ) and , when directed by the President ( or Congress during time of war ) , the United States Coast Guard , as a service within the Department of the Navy , though each remain independent service branches . The Department of the Navy was an Executive Department and the Secretary of the Navy was a member of the President 's cabinet until 1949 , when amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 changed the name of the National Military Establishment to the Department of Defense and made it an Executive Department . The Department of the Navy then became , along with the Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force , a Military Department within the Department of Defense : subject to the authority , direction and control of the Secretary of Defense .
Southwest Research Institute ( SwRI ) , headquartered in San Antonio , Texas , is one of the oldest and largest independent , nonprofit , applied research and development ( R & D ) organizations in the United States . Founded in 1947 by oil businessman Tom Slick , SwRI provides contract research and development services to government and industrial clients .
San Antonio ( /ˌsæn ænˈtoʊnioʊ/ ; from Spanish , Saint Anthony , Spanish pronunciation : [ sa.n‿anˈto.njo ] ) , officially the City of San Antonio , is the seventh-most populous city in the United States , and the second-most populous city in both Texas and the Southern United States , with more than 1.5 million residents . Founded as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost in 1718 , the city became the first chartered civil settlement in present-day Texas in 1731 . The area was still part of the Spanish Empire , and later of the Mexican Republic . It is the state 's oldest municipality , having celebrated its 300th anniversary on May 1 , 2018 . The city 's deep history is contrasted with its rapid growth over the past few decades . It was the fastest-growing of the top ten largest cities in the United States from 2000 to 2010 , and the second from 1990 to 2000 . Straddling the regional divide between South and Central Texas , San Antonio anchors the southwestern corner of an urban megaregion colloquially known as the Texas Triangle . The Greater San Antonio and Greater Austin areas are separated from each other by 80 miles along Interstate 35 between which lie the city of New Braunfels , Texas . San Antonio serves as the seat of Bexar County ; San Antonio is the center of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area . Commonly called Greater San Antonio , the metro area has a population of 2,473,974 based on the 2017 U.S. census estimate , making it the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the United States and third-largest in Texas . San Antonio was named by a 1691 Spanish expedition for Saint Anthony of Padua , whose feast day is June 13 . The city contains five 18th-century Spanish frontier missions , including The Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park , which together were designated UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2015 .
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission ( NRC ) is an independent agency of the United States government tasked with protecting public health and safety related to nuclear energy . Established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 , the NRC began operations on January 19 , 1975 as one of two successor agencies to the United States Atomic Energy Commission . Its functions include overseeing reactor safety and security , administering reactor licensing and renewal , licensing radioactive materials , radionuclide safety , and managing the storage , security , recycling , and disposal of spent fuel .
The United States Department of Health & Human Services ( HHS ) , also known as the Health Department , is a cabinet-level department of the U.S. federal government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services . Its motto is Improving the health , safety , and well-being of America . Before the separate federal Department of Education was created in 1979 , it was called the Department of Health , Education , and Welfare ( HEW ) . HHS is administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services , who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate . The United States Public Health Service ( PHS ) is the main division of the HHS and is led by the Assistant Secretary for Health . The current Secretary , Alex Azar , assumed office on January 29 , 2018 , upon his appointment by President Trump and confirmation by the Senate . The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps , the uniformed service of the PHS , is led by the Surgeon General who is responsible for addressing matters concerning public health as authorized by the Secretary or by the Assistant Secretary of Health in addition to his or her primary mission of administering the Commissioned Corps .
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory ( Fermilab ) , located just outside Batavia , Illinois , near Chicago , is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory specializing in high-energy particle physics . Since 2007 , Fermilab has been operated by the Fermi Research Alliance , a joint venture of the University of Chicago , and the Universities Research Association ( URA ) . Fermilab is a part of the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor . Fermilab 's Tevatron was a landmark particle accelerator ; until the startup in 2008 of the Large Hadron Collider ( LHC ) near Geneva , Switzerland , it was the most powerful particle accelerator in the world , accelerating antiprotons to energies of 500 GeV , and producing proton-proton collisions with energies of up to 1.6 TeV , the first accelerator to reach one tera-electron-volt energy . At 3.9 miles ( 6.3 km ) , it was the world 's fourth-largest particle accelerator in circumference . One of its most important achievements was the 1995 discovery of the top quark , announced by research teams using the Tevatron 's CDF and DØ detectors . It was shut down in 2011 . In addition to high-energy collider physics , Fermilab hosts fixed-target and neutrino experiments , such as MicroBooNE ( Micro Booster Neutrino Experiment ) , NOνA ( NuMI Off-Axis νe Appearance ) and SeaQuest . Completed neutrino experiments include MINOS ( Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search ) , MINOS+ , MiniBooNE and SciBooNE ( SciBar Booster Neutrino Experiment ) . The MiniBooNE detector was a 40-foot ( 12 m ) diameter sphere containing 800 tons of mineral oil lined with 1,520 phototube detectors . An estimated 1 million neutrino events were recorded each year . SciBooNE sat in the same neutrino beam as MiniBooNE but had fine-grained tracking capabilities .
Batavia ( /bəˈteɪviə/ ) is a city in DuPage and Kane Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois . A suburb of Chicago , it was founded in 1833 and is the oldest city in Kane County . As of the 2010 census , the city had a total population of 26,045 , which was estimated to have increased to 26,316 by July 2018 . During the latter part of the 19th century , Batavia , home to six American-style windmill manufacturing companies , became known as The Windmill City . Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory , a federal government-sponsored high-energy physics laboratory , where both the bottom quark and the top quark were first detected , is located in the city . Batavia is part of a vernacular region known as the Tri-City area , along with St. Charles and Geneva , all western suburbs of similar size and relative socioeconomic condition .
The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research ( FNLCR ) is a United States federally funded research and development center ( FFRDC ) supported by the National Cancer Institute and managed by the private contractor Leidos Biomedical Research . The institution was originally established under the name Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center in 1972 as a component of President Richard Nixon 's War on Cancer initiative . In 2012 , the institution received a national laboratory designation and assumed its current name , becoming the only U.S. national laboratory exclusively dedicated to biomedical research . The campus in Frederick , Maryland also houses National Cancer Institute laboratories and administrative organizations , and is colloquially referred to as NCI-Frederick .
Leidos , formerly known as Science Applications International Corporation ( SAIC ) , is an American defense , aviation , information technology , and biomedical research company headquartered in Reston , Virginia , that provides scientific , engineering , systems integration , and technical services . Leidos works extensively with the United States Department of Defense ( 4th largest DoD contractor FY2012 ) , the United States Department of Homeland Security , and the United States Intelligence Community , including the NSA , as well as other U.S. government civil agencies and selected commercial markets .
Frederick is a city in , and the county seat , of Frederick County in the U.S. state of Maryland . It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area . Frederick has long been an important crossroads , located at the intersection of a major north-south Indian trail and east-west routes to the Chesapeake Bay , both at Baltimore and what became Washington , D.C. and across the Appalachian mountains to the Ohio River watershed . It is a part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria , DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is part of a greater Washington-Baltimore-Arlington , DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area . The city 's population was 65,239 people at the 2010 United States Census , making it the second-largest incorporated city in Maryland , behind Baltimore . Frederick is home to Frederick Municipal Airport ( IATA : FDK ) , which accommodates general aviation , and to the county 's largest employer U.S. Army 's Fort Detrick bioscience/communications research installation .
The United States Department of Health & Human Services ( HHS ) , also known as the Health Department , is a cabinet-level department of the U.S. federal government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services . Its motto is Improving the health , safety , and well-being of America . Before the separate federal Department of Education was created in 1979 , it was called the Department of Health , Education , and Welfare ( HEW ) . HHS is administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services , who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate . The United States Public Health Service ( PHS ) is the main division of the HHS and is led by the Assistant Secretary for Health . The current Secretary , Alex Azar , assumed office on January 29 , 2018 , upon his appointment by President Trump and confirmation by the Senate . The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps , the uniformed service of the PHS , is led by the Surgeon General who is responsible for addressing matters concerning public health as authorized by the Secretary or by the Assistant Secretary of Health in addition to his or her primary mission of administering the Commissioned Corps .
The National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) ( /ɛnaɪˈeɪtʃ/ ; each letter separately ) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research . It was founded in the late 1870s , and is now part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services . The majority of NIH facilities are located in Bethesda , Maryland . The NIH conducts its own scientific research through its Intramural Research Program ( IRP ) and provides major biomedical research funding to non-NIH research facilities through its Extramural Research Program . As of 2013 [ update ] , the Intramural Research Program ( IRP ) had 1,200 principal investigators and more than 4,000 postdoctoral fellows in basic , translational , and clinical research , being the largest biomedical research institution in the world , while , as of 2003 , the extramural arm provided 28% of biomedical research funding spent annually in the U.S. , or about US $ 26.4 billion . The NIH comprises 27 separate institutes and centers of different biomedical disciplines and is responsible for many scientific accomplishments , including the discovery of fluoride to prevent tooth decay , the use of lithium to manage bipolar disorder , and the creation of vaccines against hepatitis , Haemophilus influenzae ( HIB ) , and human papillomavirus ( HPV ) . In 2019 , the NIH was ranked # 2 in the world for biomedical sciences by the Nature Index , which measured the largest contributors to papers published in a subset of leading journals from 2015-2018 .
Crystal City is an urban neighborhood in the southeastern corner of Arlington County , Virginia , south of downtown Washington , D.C. Due to its extensive integration of office buildings and residential high-rise buildings using underground corridors , travel between stores , offices , and residences is possible without going above ground ; thus , a large part of Crystal City is an underground city . Crystal City includes offices of numerous defense contractors , the United States Department of Labor , the United States Marshals Service and many satellite offices for The Pentagon . It is also the location of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport .
The United States Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) is a cabinet department of the U.S. federal government with responsibilities in public security , roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries . Its stated missions involve anti-terrorism , border security , immigration and customs , cyber security , and disaster prevention and management . It was created in November 2002 in response to 9/11 and is the youngest U.S. cabinet department . In fiscal year 2018 , it was allocated a net discretionary budget of $ 47.716 billion . With more than 240,000 employees , DHS is the third largest Cabinet department , after the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs . Homeland security policy is coordinated at the White House by the Homeland Security Council . Other agencies with significant homeland security responsibilities include the Departments of Health and Human Services , Justice , and Energy . Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen resigned on April 7 , 2019 , effective April 10 . By law ( 6 U.S.C . §113 ( g ) ) , Undersecretary for Management Claire Grady was to become the acting Secretary of Homeland Security . On April 7 , President Donald J. Trump designated the current U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan as acting Secretary ; that had lingering questions of legality resolved after Trump forced Grady to resign on April 9 . McAleenan then named David Pekoske , who currently also serves as the TSA Administrator , as the acting Deputy Secretary .
The Science and Technology Directorate ( S & T ) is a component within the United States Department of Homeland Security . DHS-S & T serves as the research and development arm of the Department as it fulfills its national security mission . The Science and Technology Directorate is led by the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology , who is appointed by the President of the United States with confirmation by the United States Senate . William N. Bryan is the acting Under Secretary .
Idaho National Laboratory ( INL ) is one of the national laboratories of the United States Department of Energy and is managed by the Battelle Energy Alliance . While the laboratory does other research , historically it has been involved with nuclear research . Much of current knowledge about how nuclear reactors behave and misbehave was discovered at what is now Idaho National Laboratory . John Grossenbacher , former INL director , said , The history of nuclear energy for peaceful application has principally been written in Idaho . Various organizations have built more than 50 reactors at what is commonly called the Site , including the ones that gave the world its first usable amount of electricity from nuclear power and the power plant for the world 's first nuclear submarine . Although many are now decommissioned , these facilities are the largest concentration of reactors in the world . It is on a 890-square-mile ( 2,310 km2 ) complex in the high desert of eastern Idaho , between Arco to the west and Idaho Falls and Blackfoot to the east . Atomic City , Idaho is just south . The laboratory employs approximately 4,000 people .
Battelle Memorial Institute ( more widely known as simply Battelle ) is a private nonprofit applied science and technology development company headquartered in Columbus , Ohio . Battelle is a charitable trust organized as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Ohio and is exempt from taxation under Section 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) of the Internal Revenue Code because it is organized for charitable , scientific and education purposes . The institute opened in 1929 but traces its origins to the 1923 will of Ohio industrialist Gordon Battelle which provided for its creation . Originally focusing on contract research and development work in the areas of metals and material science , Battelle is now an international science and technology enterprise that explores emerging areas of science , develops and commercializes technology , and manages laboratories for customers .
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County , Idaho , United States , and the state 's largest city outside the Boise metropolitan area . As of the 2010 census , the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813 ( 2018 estimate : 61,535 ) , with a metro population of 133,265 . Idaho Falls serves as the commercial , cultural , and healthcare hub for eastern Idaho , as well as parts of western Wyoming and southern Montana . It is served by the Idaho Falls Regional Airport and is home to the College of Eastern Idaho , Museum of Idaho , and the Idaho Falls Chukars minor league baseball team . It is the principal city of the Idaho Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Idaho Falls-Blackfoot , Idaho Combined Statistical Area .
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory ( JPL ) is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center in the cities of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena , California , United States . Founded in the 1930s , JPL is currently owned by NASA and managed by the nearby California Institute of Technology ( Caltech ) for NASA . The laboratory 's primary function is the construction and operation of planetary robotic spacecraft , though it also conducts Earth-orbit and astronomy missions . It is also responsible for operating NASA 's Deep Space Network . Among the laboratory 's major active projects are the Mars Science Laboratory mission ( which includes the Curiosity rover ) , the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter , the Juno spacecraft orbiting Jupiter , the NuSTAR X-ray telescope , the SMAP satellite for earth surface soil moisture monitoring , and the Spitzer Space Telescope . It is also responsible for managing the JPL Small-Body Database , and provides physical data and lists of publications for all known small Solar System bodies . JPL 's Space Flight Operations Facility and Twenty-Five-Foot Space Simulator are designated National Historic Landmarks .
The California Institute of Technology ( Caltech ) is a private doctorate-granting research university in Pasadena , California . Known for its strength in natural science and engineering , Caltech is often ranked as one of the world 's top-ten universities . Although founded as a preparatory and vocational school by Amos G. Throop in 1891 , the college attracted influential scientists such as George Ellery Hale , Arthur Amos Noyes and Robert Andrews Millikan in the early 20th century . The vocational and preparatory schools were disbanded and spun off in 1910 and the college assumed its present name in 1920 . In 1934 , Caltech was elected to the Association of American Universities , and the antecedents of NASA 's Jet Propulsion Laboratory , which Caltech continues to manage and operate , were established between 1936 and 1943 under Theodore von Kármán . The university is one among a small group of institutes of technology in the United States which is primarily devoted to the instruction of pure and applied sciences . Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphasis on science and engineering , managing $ 332 million in 2011 in sponsored research . Its 124-acre ( 50 ha ) primary campus is located approximately 11 mi ( 18 km ) northeast of downtown Los Angeles . First-year students are required to live on campus and 95% of undergraduates remain in the on-campus House System at Caltech . Although Caltech has a strong tradition of practical jokes and pranks , student life is governed by an honor code which allows faculty to assign take-home examinations . The Caltech Beavers compete in 13 intercollegiate sports in the NCAA Division III 's Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference . As of November 2019 [ update ] , Caltech alumni , faculty and researchers include 74 Nobel Laureates ( chemist Linus Pauling being the only individual in history to win two unshared prizes ) , 4 Fields Medalists , and 6 Turing Award winners .
Pasadena ( /ˌpæsəˈdiːnə/ ) is a city in Los Angeles County , California , United States , located 11 miles ( 18 km ) northeast of Downtown Los Angeles . The population of Pasadena was 137,122 at the 2010 census and an estimated 141,371 in 2018 , making it the 40th largest city in California and the ninth-largest city in Los Angeles County . Pasadena was incorporated on June 19 , 1886 , becoming one of the first cities to be incorporated in what is now Los Angeles County , following the city of Los Angeles ( April 4 , 1850 ) . It is one of the primary cultural centers of the San Gabriel Valley . The city is known for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade . In addition , Pasadena is also home to many scientific and cultural institutions , including Caltech , Pasadena City College , Fuller Theological Seminary , ArtCenter College of Design , the Pasadena Playhouse , the Ambassador Auditorium , the Norton Simon Museum , and the USC Pacific Asia Museum , with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory located in nearby La Cañada Flintridge .
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA , /ˈnæsə/ ) is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government responsible for the civilian space program , as well as aeronautics and aerospace research . [ note 1 ] NASA was established in 1958 , succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics ( NACA ) . The new agency was to have a distinctly civilian orientation , encouraging peaceful applications in space science . Since its establishment , most US space exploration efforts have been led by NASA , including the Apollo Moon landing missions , the Skylab space station , and later the Space Shuttle . NASA is supporting the International Space Station and is overseeing the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle , the Space Launch System and Commercial Crew vehicles . The agency is also responsible for the Launch Services Program which provides oversight of launch operations and countdown management for uncrewed NASA launches . NASA science is focused on better understanding Earth through the Earth Observing System ; advancing heliophysics through the efforts of the Science Mission Directorate 's Heliophysics Research Program ; exploring bodies throughout the Solar System with advanced robotic spacecraft missions such as New Horizons ; and researching astrophysics topics , such as the Big Bang , through the Great Observatories and associated programs .
The courts of the United States are closely linked hierarchical systems of courts at the federal and state levels . The federal courts form the judicial branch of the federal government of the United States and operate under the authority of the United States Constitution and federal law . The state and territorial courts of the individual U.S. states and territories operate under the authority of the state and territorial constitutions and state and territorial law . Federal statutes that refer to the courts of the United States are referring only to the courts of the federal government , and not the courts of the individual states and counties . Because of the federalist underpinnings of the division between sovereign federal and state governments , the various state court systems are free to operate in ways that vary widely from those of the federal government , and from one another . In practice , however , every state has adopted a division of its judiciary into at least two levels , and almost every state has three levels , with trial courts hearing cases which may be reviewed by appellate courts , and finally by a state supreme court . A few states have two separate supreme courts , with one having authority over civil matters and the other reviewing criminal cases . 47 states and the federal government allow at least one appeal of right from a final judgment on the merits , meaning that the court receiving the appeal must decide the appeal after it is briefed and argued properly . Three states do not provide a right to a first appeal . Rather , they give litigants only a right to petition for the right to have an appeal heard . State courts often have diverse names and structures , as illustrated below . State courts hear about 98% of litigation ; most states have courts of special jurisdiction , which typically handle minor disputes such as traffic citations , and courts of general jurisdiction responsible for more serious disputes .
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ( LBNL ) , commonly referred to as Berkeley Lab , is a United States national laboratory that conducts scientific research on behalf of the United States Department of Energy ( DOE ) . It is located in the Berkeley Hills near Berkeley , California , overlooking the main campus of the University of California , Berkeley . It is managed and operated by the University of California .
The University of California ( UC ) is a public university system in the U.S. state of California . Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education , the University of California is a part of the state 's three-system public higher education plan , which also includes the California State University system and the California Community Colleges System . The University of California was founded on March 23 , 1868 , and operated in Oakland before moving to its campus in Berkeley in 1873 . In March 1951 , the University of California began to reorganize itself into something distinct from its campus at Berkeley , with Robert Gordon Sproul remaining in place as the first systemwide President , Clark Kerr becoming the first Chancellor of UC Berkeley , and Raymond B. Allen became the first Chancellor of UCLA . However , the 1951 reorganization was stalled by resistance from Sproul and his allies , and it was not until Kerr succeeded Sproul as President that UC was able to evolve into a system from 1957 to 1960 . In the 21st century , the University of California has 10 campuses , a combined student body of 280,380 students , 21,200 faculty members , 144,000 staff members and over 1.86 million living alumni , as governed by a semi-autonomous Board of Regents . Its tenth and newest campus in Merced opened in fall 2005 . Nine campuses enroll both undergraduate and graduate students ; one campus , UC San Francisco , enrolls only graduate and professional students in the medical and health sciences . In addition , the UC Hastings College of Law , located in San Francisco , is legally affiliated with UC , but other than sharing its name is entirely autonomous from the rest of the system . The University of California also manages or co-manages three national laboratories for the U.S. Department of Energy : Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ( LBNL ) , Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ( LLNL ) , and Los Alamos National Laboratory ( LANL ) . Collectively , the colleges , institutions , and alumni of the University of California make it the most comprehensive and advanced postsecondary educational system in the world , responsible for nearly $ 50 billion per year of economic impact . UC campuses have large numbers of distinguished faculty in almost every academic discipline , with UC faculty and researchers having won at least 62 Nobel Prizes as of 2017 .
Berkeley ( /ˈbɜːrkli/ BURK-lee ) is a city on the east shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County , California . It is named after the 18th-century Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley . It borders the cities of Oakland and Emeryville to the south and the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington to the north . Its eastern border with Contra Costa County generally follows the ridge of the Berkeley Hills . The 2010 census recorded a population of 112,580 . Berkeley is home to the oldest campus in the University of California system , the University of California , Berkeley , and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , which is managed and operated by the University . It also has the Graduate Theological Union , one of the largest religious studies institutions in the world . Berkeley is considered one of the most socially liberal cities in the United States .
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ( LLNL ) is a federal research facility in Livermore , California , United States , founded by the University of California , Berkeley in 1952 . Originally a branch of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , the Lawrence Livermore laboratory became autonomous in 1971 and was designated a national laboratory in 1981 . A Federally Funded Research and Development Center ( FFRDC ) , Lawrence Livermore lab is primarily funded by the U.S. Department of Energy ( DOE ) and managed and operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security , LLC ( LLNS ) , a partnership of the University of California , Bechtel , BWX Technologies , AECOM , and Battelle Memorial Institute in affiliation with the Texas A & M University System . In 2012 , the laboratory had the synthetic chemical element livermorium named after it .
Livermore ( formerly Livermores , Livermore Ranch , and Nottingham ) is a city in Alameda County , California , in the United States . With an estimated 2017 population of 89,648 , Livermore is the most populous city in the Tri-Valley . Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California 's San Francisco Bay Area . The incumbent Mayor of Livermore is John Marchand . Livermore was founded by William Mendenhall and named for Robert Livermore , his friend and a local rancher who settled in the area in the 1840s . Livermore is the home of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , for which the chemical element livermorium is named ( and thus , placing the city 's name in the periodic table ) . Livermore is also the California site of Sandia National Laboratories , which is headquartered in Albuquerque , New Mexico . Its south side is home to local vineyards . The city has redeveloped its downtown district and is considered part of the Tri-Valley area , comprising Amador , Livermore and San Ramon valleys .