Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering ASD ( R & E ) is a senior official of the United States Department of Defense . The ASD ( R & E ) and the office s / he heads are charged with the development and oversight of DoD technology strategy for the DoD . The ASD ( R & E ) reports to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition , Technology and Logistics ( USD ( AT & L ) ) . The post ( or effectively the same post ) has at various times had the titles Under Secretary of Defense , Research and Engineering ( USDR & E ) , or Director of Defense Research and Engineering ( DDR & E ) . The latter title has itself historically varied between the rank of Under Secretary and that of Assistant Secretary . ASD ( R & E ) is the principal staff advisor for research and engineering matters to the USD ( AT & L ) , and also the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense . In this capacity , ASD ( R & E ) serves as the Chief Technology Officer ( CTO ) for the Department of Defense charged with the development and oversight of DoD technology strategy in concert with the Department ’ s current and future requirements . The goal of ASD ( R & E ) is to extend the capabilities of current war fighting systems , develop breakthrough capabilities , hedge against an uncertain future through a set of scientific and engineering options and counter strategic surprise . In cooperation with the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology ( DUSD ( A & T ) ) , ASD ( R & E ) also provides advice and assistance in developing policies for rapid technology transition . As of July 2009 , DDR & E introduced four areas of focus in support of the immediate and future needs of the DoD : History . The National Security Act of 1947 and its 1949 amendments established the Department of Defense , including the establishment of two statutory boards , a Munitions Board , and a Research and Development Board . In June , 1953 , President Eisenhower ’ s Reorganization Plan No . 6 abolished the boards as such , and created six new Assistant Secretaries of Defense , two of which were predecessors to the current ASD ( R & E ) : ASD ( Applications Engineering ) and ASD ( Research and Development ) . Some time later , the Applications Engineering position became simply Engineering . In March 1957 , the two related ASDs were combined to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense , Research and Engineering , ASD ( R & E ) . Then , under the DoD Reorganization Act of 1958 ( PL 85 - 599 , effective August 6 , 1958 ) , the position of ASD ( R & E ) was abolished and replaced by a new Director of Defense Research and Engineering ( DDR & E ) , with the higher rank of Under Secretary . From May 19 , 1961 , until July 15 , 1965 , the Deputy DDR & E held the additional title of ASD ( R & E ) , on the theory that this position reported to , in rank , an Under Secretary , the DDR & E . On October 21 , 1977 , PL 95 - 140 made the rank of the DDR & E unambiguous by renaming it to Under Secretary of Defense , Research and Engineering , USD ( R & E ) . The history of Department of Defense management of science and technology up to the 1980s is described at greater length in a report available from the Defense Technical Information Center ( DTIC ) . The Military Reform Act of 1986 expanded the scope of USD ( R & E ) position to encompass acquisition and logistics , as well as technology , and it was renamed USD ( AT & L ) , as it remains today . A subordinate position at the Assistant Secretary level was reestablished with the previous title DDR & E . However , budget control of the technology portfolio was kept by USD ( AT & L ) , diminishing the importance of the DDR & E position subsequently . On January 7 , 2011 , President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act with several redesignated titles within the Department of Defense . These changes included renaming the DDR & E as , once again , ASD ( R & E ) . Office Holders . The table below includes both the various names which this position has been named over time , as well as all the holders of those various offices .