Formed as a national security think tank in the wake of World War II, RAND (Research and Development) has since expanded to address issues on a very broad front. RAND employs over 500 research professionals and analyzes choices and developments in many areas, including "national defense, education and training, health care, criminal and civil justice, labor and population, science and technology,...

In April 2002, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released this overview of its current work. The report summarizes many of the organization's main programs, which are grouped into three broad areas. The first area details the efforts being made to minimize threats and ensure national security. Development of new technologies and advanced systems is highlighted in the second...

Founded in March 2002, the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) is investigating the potential use of nanotechnology to improve the effectiveness of individual soldiers. The US Army is funding the research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which focuses on three main areas: "protection, performance enhancement, and injury intervention and cure." The ISN homepage has overviews...

Based in Virginia, the primary mission of the Army Geospatial Center (AGC) is "to coordinate, integrate, and synchronize geospatial information requirements and standards across the Army." On the home page, visitors can learn about the AGC's ongoing initiatives via the How Can We Help You area. Here visitors can learn about different thematic projects dealing with civil works, terrain, imagery,...