What Does Institute for Defense Analyses Do?

Total employees1548
HeadquartersAlexandria
Founded1956

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is a non-profit corporation that operates three Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs): the Systems and Analyses Center (SAC), the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI), and the Center for Communications and Computing (C&CC). IDA provides objective analyses of national security issues and related national challenges, particularly those requiring extraordinary scientific and technical expertise. Its mission is to answer the most challenging U.S. security and science policy questions with objective analysis leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical, and analytic expertise.

Where Is Institute for Defense Analyses's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the primary hub for IDA's research, analysis, and administrative operations, housing its major FFRDCs and facilitating collaboration on national security and science policy challenges.

Notable Features:

Modern facility located in the Mark Center complex, designed to support complex research and secure operations. Offers state-of-the-art computing resources, secure facilities, and extensive meeting spaces.

Work Culture:

Intellectually stimulating and collaborative environment focused on objective, rigorous analysis. Emphasizes expertise, integrity, and service to the nation. Fosters a culture of continuous learning and problem-solving, attracting highly skilled professionals dedicated to impactful work.

HQ Significance:

Centralizes IDA's core research capabilities and leadership, enabling it to effectively serve its government sponsors, including the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. Its location near Washington D.C. facilitates close interaction with government decision-makers.

Values Reflected in HQ: The facility's design supports collaboration, security, and advanced research, reflecting IDA's core values of rigor, objectivity, analytical excellence, and its commitment to addressing complex national security challenges with integrity.

Location:

While IDA's physical research centers are located within the United States, its analyses and research inherently address national security and science policy issues with global implications. IDA supports U.S. government sponsors, such as the Department of Defense, whose missions are global in scope. Its work often involves analyzing international technological advancements, global security landscapes, geopolitical dynamics, and foreign policy challenges. IDA staff may participate in international conferences, engagements, and collaborations when pertinent to their research and sponsor needs, contributing to a broader understanding of global issues affecting U.S. national security.

Street Address:

4850 Mark Center Drive

City:

Alexandria

State/Province:

Virginia

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Institute for Defense Analyses Operate Around the World?

Washington, D.C., USA

Address: 1150 18th St NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036

Strategically located in downtown Washington D.C. to facilitate close collaboration with federal government agencies, Congress, and policymakers, providing direct, timely support for science and technology policy decision-making.

Bowie, Maryland, USA

Address: 17100 Science Drive, Bowie, MD 20715-4300

Provides specialized, high-performance computing research and expertise in a secure environment, supporting critical intelligence and national security missions with cutting-edge computational capabilities.

Princeton, New Jersey, USA

Address: 805 Bunn Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540-3699

Leverages the rich academic and research environment of Princeton and its proximity to leading universities to attract top mathematical and scientific talent for critical national security research in communications and cryptography.

La Jolla, California, USA

Address: 4320 Eastgate Mall, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92121

Taps into the vibrant tech and academic community in the San Diego area to recruit specialized talent for advanced research in cryptology and communications security for national security purposes.

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Who's Leading Institute for Defense Analyses? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Institute for Defense Analyses' leadership includes:

H. Nortign Larsen - President
Margaret E. Myers - Executive Vice President
David E. Hunter - Vice President, IDA; Director, Systems and Analyses Center (SAC)
David A. Honey - Director, Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI)
Kevin M. O'Connell - Director, Center for Communications and Computing (C&CC) (Acting)
Timothy M. Lorfeld - Chief Financial Officer and Director, Finance & Administration Division
Richard M. Glesner - General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Who's Investing in Institute for Defense Analyses?

Institute for Defense Analyses has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

U.S. Department of Defense (Primary Sponsor for SAC FFRDC)
National Science Foundation (Sponsor for STPI FFRDC, supporting the Office of Science and Technology Policy)
National Security Agency (Primary Sponsor for C&CC FFRDC)
Other U.S. Federal Government Agencies (e.g., Department of Homeland Security, NASA, Department of Energy)

What Leadership Changes Has Institute for Defense Analyses Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

Public announcements regarding specific day-to-day executive team hires or departures at the Institute for Defense Analyses (e.g., President, VPs, Division Directors) are infrequent, which is common for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers. Leadership transitions are typically managed internally and reflected through updates on the organization's official website. Based on available public information, no major, publicly announced changes to the core operational executive leadership team have been identified in the past 12 months. The Board of Trustees, which provides governance, saw new appointments in October 2023, but these are not operational executive roles.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byInstitute for Defense Analyses?

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Institute for Defense Analyses Email Formats and Examples

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) primarily uses the 'ida.org' domain for its email communications. Common corporate email formats include the first initial followed by the last name, or sometimes the first name separated from the last name by a period.

[first_initial][last_name]@ida.org (e.g., jsmith@ida.org) is a highly common format. Another potential format is [first_name].[last_name]@ida.org (e.g., jane.doe@ida.org).

Format

nlarsen@ida.org (example for H. Nortign Larsen based on the common flast@ida.org pattern)

Example

85%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Institute for Defense Analyses?

IDA NewsMarch 7, 2024

STPI Study Explores Equitable Engagement of Underserved Communities in U.S. Government Research

A study by IDA's Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) examines methods for the U.S. government to more equitably engage underserved communities in research, providing recommendations to enhance inclusivity and broaden participation in federally funded research initiatives....more

IDA NewsFebruary 29, 2024

IDA Researchers Honored for Contributions to DOT&E Report on F-35 Joint Simulation Environment

Researchers from IDA's Operational Evaluation Division were recognized for their significant contributions to the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) report on the F-35 Joint Simulation Environment (JSE), highlighting IDA's role in critical defense system assessments....more

IDA NewsOctober 18, 2023

IDA Board of Trustees Welcomes Three New Members

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) announced the appointment of Gen. Stephen W. Wilson (Ret.), The Honorable Lisa Disbrow, and Dr. Michael A. Daniels to its Board of Trustees, effective October 2023. These appointments bring diverse expertise from military, government, and technology sectors to IDA's governance....more

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