Capability Development and Innovation
(CD&I)
Divisions

Operational Demands and Threat Analysis (ODTA)

This ODTA team serves as a strategic oversight entity for identifying and prioritizing capability gaps. Its mission is to prioritize these gaps to ensure they align with an evolving Irregular Warfare Capabilities Roadmap. The emphasis will be on synchronizing capabilities with mission priorities, not only within the Department of Defense but also across interagency collaborations and among international allies. This analytical framework ensures a unified and coordinated strategy to tackle current and emerging threats in the realm of IW.

Irregular Warfare Capability Development (IWCD)

Building on the longstanding work of IWTSD, the capability development section will continue to serve as the core engine for advancing IW tools and solutions. This component translates identified and prioritized needs into tangible capabilities through a mix of research, design, and operational input. It maintains the organization’s reputation as a key innovator in disruptive innovation, prototype technologies, and rapid solutions for the Special Operations Forces community and beyond. The technology focus areas (subgroups) are evolving as well and will be provided soon.

Assessment of Prototypes and Experimentation (APEX)

The APEX team ensures that solutions undergo robust evaluation before deployment. Once a requirement has been identified and a solution developed, APEX organizes field- based experimentation to assess effectiveness. This allows operators to interact with prototypes in semi-operational environments, offering critical user feedback and validation before full-scale operational testing, evaluation, and fielding. The emphasis on practical testing supports both risk reduction and accelerated transition of capabilities.

Global Innovation Partnerships (GIP)

This final area underscores the enduring importance of collaboration with international allies and partners. Spearheaded by the Deputy Director for Global Innovation, this subsection will coordinate multinational capability development efforts, ensuring alignment of requirements and mutual benefit. Further, the GIP will identify lessons learned from existing contingency operations and ground US capability gaps in real world mission requirements. It builds on more than three decades of relationship-building and cooperative work under the Technical Support Working Group (TSWG) to improve the collective readiness and technological advantage of US and Partner operators.