New delegations of technology transfer agreement execution authority to Department of the Air Force (DAF) organizations will streamline the execution of technology transfer (T2) agreements.
The DAF Technology Executive Officer (TEO), a position held by the sitting Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) commander, holds authority for approving T2 agreements between DAF laboratories and external partners in industry or academia possessing specific areas of expertise. DAF executes T2 agreements to transfer innovations originating in DAF laboratories to external partners for further development and refinement.
DAF pursues these agreements for two major reasons. First, T2 agreements maximize the potential economic impact of taxpayer-funded work, as industry and academia can add financial value to initial discoveries. Second, augmented technologies can be transitioned back into government to provide the warfighter with enhanced capabilities. Although the DAF TEO is the final authority empowered to approve the execution T2 agreements, he or she can delegate that authority to other selected organizations within DAF.
The DAF Technology Transfer and Transition (T3) Program Office (PO) is the primary office responsible for DAF T2-related activities. DAFT3PO is nested organizationally within AFRL to maintain proximity to the DAF TEO, as the office oversees the development and execution of T2 agreements on the DAF TEO’s behalf. The office assists DAF laboratories in conducting technology transfer by generating agreements that promote collaboration while safeguarding DAF’s intellectual property interests in new technologies.
When DAFT3PO has successfully helped a laboratory execute several T2 agreements and it seems likely that more will follow, the office often initiates a conversation with the laboratory in question about delegating agreement execution authority from the TEO directly to that organization. A candidate for delegated authority must demonstrate that it possesses the capacity and resources necessary to execute T2 agreements regularly. Although delegated authority allows laboratories to develop and execute T2 agreements without direct DAFT3PO involvement, DAFT3PO provides ongoing training and guidance to entities with delegated authority to ensure compliance with all established processes and requirements.
In the first quarter of 2026, several DAF organizations received new delegations of agreement execution authority. One of them is the United States Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC) Plans, Programs, and Requirements Directorate (A5/8). USAFWC/A5/8’s mission falls into three broad categories: operational test and evaluation, tactics development, and advanced training. Over the past five years, USAFWC/A5/8 has worked with DAFT3PO to develop several Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) to accelerate next-generation capabilities in both live and simulated environments. These agreements have permitted USAFWC/A5/8 to investigate and implement new capabilities – such as unconventional applications of artificial intelligence – at the “speed of need.”
USAFWC/A5/8 has successfully pursued CRADAs with several large firms, each of which works on a different “piece of the puzzle” related to enhancing warfighter capabilities. Indeed, each individual agreement has allowed USAFWC/A5/8 to conduct experimentation and rapid learning through approved processes; together, they have greatly enhanced USAFWC/A5/8’s ability to execute its mission.
Because of these initial successes, and because more agreements are anticipated in the future, pursuing delegated authority seemed like the “next logical step” in USAFWC/A5/8’s innovation process. USAFWC/A5/8 personnel worked closely with DAFT3PO staff to develop a rationale for granting the organization delegated authority. DAFT3PO also involved staff from the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Law Office (LO) – which conducts legal review of technology transfer agreements – in the discussion. With positive recommendations in hand, the DAF TEO formally approved the delegation in early 2026.
USAFWC/A5/8 is now excited to begin “stepping forward” into new CRADAs. The organization is especially enthusiastic about using the Defense Technology Transformation Information System (DTTIS), a centralized database facilitating rapid development of technology transfer agreements. Because some of USAFWC/A5/8’s initiatives may have broader application across other DAF entities, its acquisition of delegated authority may be enormously beneficial for DAF’s capability development moving forward.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. With a workforce spanning across nine technology areas and 40 other operations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit www.afresearchlab.com.