Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security

Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security
Name	Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security
Established	2018
Parent	University of Maryland, College Park
Director	William "Bill" Regli
City	College Park, Maryland
Country	United States

Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security. It is a University Affiliated Research Center sponsored by the United States Department of Defense and administered by the Office of Naval Research. Established in 2018, ARLIS is housed at the University of Maryland, College Park and serves as a national resource for foundational and applied research in the intelligence and security domains. The laboratory's work is critical to addressing complex challenges facing the U.S. Intelligence Community and the U.S. Department of Defense.

History and establishment

The laboratory was formally established in 2018 following a competitive selection process led by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Its creation was driven by a recognized need within the Pentagon and agencies like the National Security Agency for a dedicated academic center to tackle emerging technological threats. The designation as a University Affiliated Research Center placed ARLIS among an elite group of institutions, such as the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and Lincoln Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This status provides long-term strategic partnership with the U.S. government, enabling deep, mission-focused research. The selection of the University of Maryland, College Park capitalized on its proximity to key agencies in the Washington metropolitan area and its strong programs in fields like computer science and engineering.

Mission and research focus

The core mission is to conduct unclassified, foundational research that enhances the security and effectiveness of the U.S. Intelligence Community and the U.S. Department of Defense. Its research focus spans several interdisciplinary areas critical to modern security. These include artificial intelligence and machine learning, with an emphasis on trustworthy and explainable systems for data analysis. Another major thrust is cybersecurity, focusing on resilient systems and the security of critical infrastructure. ARLIS also researches human-computer interaction and the science of human-autonomy teaming to improve decision-making. Additional areas involve advanced data analytics, information integrity, and the technical and social dimensions of security.

Organizational structure and leadership

ARLIS operates as an institute within the University of Maryland, College Park, reporting through the university's Vice President for Research. The laboratory is led by a Director, a position held since its founding by William "Bill" Regli, a former program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Research is organized into cross-disciplinary teams and thrust areas rather than traditional academic departments, fostering collaboration between faculty, research scientists, and students. The laboratory maintains a close advisory relationship with its government sponsors, including the Office of Naval Research and leadership from the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. This structure ensures alignment with the evolving priorities of the National Defense Strategy.

Key projects and contributions

Key projects often involve developing novel artificial intelligence tools for processing large, multi-modal datasets, a capability vital for agencies like the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Contributions include advancements in natural language processing for multilingual information extraction and in computer vision for automated scene understanding. The laboratory has produced significant research on securing the Internet of Things and the industrial control systems that underpin national infrastructure. Other notable work involves creating testing and evaluation frameworks for autonomous systems and developing methods to detect sophisticated disinformation campaigns and deepfake media. These outputs are frequently transitioned to operational partners within the U.S. Department of Defense.

Partnerships and collaborations

As a University Affiliated Research Center, ARLIS maintains a primary partnership with the Office of Naval Research and the broader U.S. Department of Defense. It collaborates extensively with other UARCs, national laboratories like Los Alamos National Laboratory, and combatant commands such as United States Cyber Command. Within the academic sphere, it engages in multi-university research initiatives and partners with other units at the University of Maryland, College Park, including the Maryland Cybersecurity Center. The laboratory also works with industry partners in the defense industry and the technology sector to facilitate the transition of research into practical applications. These collaborations are essential for addressing multifaceted security challenges.

Facilities and resources

ARLIS is headquartered in the Discovery District of College Park, Maryland, leveraging the university's research park environment. Its facilities include secure laboratories for computing and data science research, collaboration spaces, and access to the university's high-performance computing resources, such as those at the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies. The laboratory provides researchers with access to specialized datasets and testbeds for evaluating cybersecurity and autonomous system technologies. Its location offers direct access to the resources of the University of Maryland, College Park libraries and its extensive faculty expertise, while its proximity to Washington, D.C., facilitates engagement with government and industry partners.

Category:Research institutes in Maryland Category:University of Maryland, College Park Category:United States Department of Defense research and development