Motivational Quote of the Week

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.." – Helen Keller

Technical Quote of the Week

"Energy is the key to all problems. Solve the energy problem, and you solve most other problems." – Elon Musk

Welcome

I’m Rashid Miraj, D.Sc., founder of Miraj Consulting LLC, working to bridge academia, primes, and DoD via CRADAs/BAAs/OTAs . This bi-weekly briefing curates DoD priorities, university breakthroughs, global tech watch, collaborative opportunities, upcoming events, and foundations for talent pipelines to support program managers, prime contractors, and university innovation leaders.

The ongoing delay in SBIR authorization has thrown a monkey wrench into the DOD supported R&D world. We all hoped this would be quickly resolved and not fester like previous years. Unfortunately, here we are. Appropriately, this edition will focus on the reduced list of core critical technologies identified by the DOD’s Chief Technology Officer. Hopefully a review will be helpful to everyone.

Here’s a link to the 1st Edition, in case you missed it: https://www.mirajconsulting.com/p/miraj-tech-transition-pulse-no-1

Let's accelerate America's tech edge — together.

1. What the Government Wants

The Department of Defense (DoD) has identified six Critical Technology Areas (CTAs) as its focused priorities for investment, development, and rapid delivery to warfighters. The update was announced in late 2025 by, Emil Michael, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) through the Office of the Under-Secretary of Defense for Research & Development (OUSD(R&D)). Try saying that six times in a row. www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4333074/under-secretary-of-war-for-research-and-engineering-emil-michael-announces-six/

The six CTAs are designed to address urgent national security challenges, deliver tangible results quickly, and maintain US military dominance amid adversarial competition.The six critical technology areas are:

  • Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI): Transforming the DoD into an "AI-First" organization to revolutionize decision-making, operational efficiency, and alignment with broader AI initiatives (e.g., White House AI Action Plan).

  • Biomanufacturing (BIO): Harnessing living systems to produce critical capabilities, materials, and substances at scale, reducing supply chain vulnerabilities and boosting resilience.

  • Contested Logistics Technologies (LOG): Overcoming disruptions in contested or denied environments to ensure reliable resupply, operational continuity, and force sustainment.

  • Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance: Enabling superiority in information operations, including quantum technologies, to allow warfighters to operate effectively in degraded, denied, or contested information environments.

  • Scaled Directed Energy: Delivering cost-effective, high-energy solutions (e.g., lasers or other directed energy weapons) for enhanced lethality and defense.

  • Scaled Hypersonics: Accelerating the development and fielding of powerful, fast, and lethal hypersonic capabilities to outpace adversaries.

This refined list aligns with FY2026 budgeting and strategy emphases on rapid prototyping, scaling, and transitioning technologies to the military services and combatant commands. Note that DoD's priorities can evolve, and related areas like cybersecurity, microelectronics, or autonomy often receive funding support but are not part of this core narrowed list.

SBIR/STTR Update

The SBIR/STTR programs lapsed on October 1, 2025—no new solicitations, topics, or awards can be issued until Congressional reauthorization (anticipated early 2026, potentially via appropriations or standalone bills before the January 30 continuing resolution deadline). Agencies like DoD and Navy are holding prior-cycle topics in pre-release or extending existing ones, but new FY26 releases are paused.

Please check back for updates regarding SBIR authorization and news related to DOD FY26 budget R&D support.

2. What Universities Are Doing

University labs are advancing technolgy directly aligned with DOD needs:

Need help packaging these capabilities for primes or DoD? DM me — let’s see what we can do together

3. Contractual Vehicles Bridging Them

  • CRADAs with NRL/ONR labs: Shared testing facilities/expertise — negotiable IP, no direct funding to partner. Ideal for validating university prototypes in real Navy conditions.

  • OTAs via consortia (e.g., National Spectrum Consortium): Fast-track prototypes for energy systems — flexible terms, cost-sharing.

  • MURI/DURIP: Multidisciplinary research grants/equipment funding for foundational energy storage work — white papers due ~May 2026.

Interested in structuring these vehicles for your team? Let’s talk about the complexities of the process and required bandwidth for real success. Reply for support to avoid potential pitfalls and worse, misallocated funds.

4. Global Lens: What the Other Guys Are Up To

Adversaries prioritize optimized materials (High-Entropy ultra-high-temperature ceramics) for resilience in contested domains — developing verifiable models for faster R&D cycles related to extreme environments.

  • China (South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China): Researchers developed a high-entropy carbide ceramic, (Hf, Ta, Zr, W)C, that achieves exceptional oxidation resistance with a remarkably low oxidation rate of 2.7 µm/s even at temperatures up to 3600 °C. The breakthrough, enabled by high-entropy compositional engineering, results in a protective dual-layer oxide structure featuring high-melting-point tungsten particles embedded in complex molten oxides, significantly advancing ultrahigh-temperature materials for hypersonic applications like re-entry vehicles and propulsion systems. Read more: Advanced Materials (2025) – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392442777_Exceptional_Oxidation_Resistance_of_High-Entropy_Carbides_up_to_3600_C

  • Russia (SPbU/RAS St. Petersburg, Russia) The team provides a comprehensive review of the physicochemical properties of high-entropy oxides (HEOs), carbides (HECs), and oxycarbides (HECOs) at extreme temperatures, driven by demands in aerospace engineering, nuclear power, metallurgy, and microelectronics. The Paper highlights their unique advantages, while advocating an integrated approach to predict and optimize refractory multicomponent systems. The methodology bridges gaps in thermodynamic data resulting in unified predictive strategies for synthesis and application under extreme conditions and providing a roadmap to accelerate development of next-generation high-temperature materials. Read more: Russian Chemical Review https://rcr.colab.ws/publications/10.59761/RCR5156

5. STEM Talent Bridge & Diversity Hires

Miraj Consulting is launching STEM Talent Bridge—a targeted service to help small businesses and startups access cleared, highly skilled STEM professionals (engineers, data scientists, systems architects) without the long hiring cycles.

I am actively exploring/developing an actionable knowledgebase of talent. When fully operational it will provide primes with vetted talent for STEM/DEI goals, help universities boost placement rates, and ensure more graduates tap into technical societies to ensure and accelerate professional development.

Why not start the dialogue to make this a reality, the sooner the better. Early participants will get priority access—reply to this email to learn more: [email protected].

  • Spotlight: HBCU engineering graduates (e.g., Howard University) with AI/advanced materials expertise seeking internships/full-time roles at primes (RTX, Lockheed, Boeing).

  • National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) - Had previously established a “10k by 2025” program aimed to graduate 10,000 Black engineers annually by 2025, incorporating scholarships, academic retention, and career-focused resources to boost undergraduate retention and job placement. Although the goal was not reached, the desire and need are still there. The 2025 NSBE Convention in Atlanta emphasized AI, green tech, and STEM reform, offering a massive career fair with direct interviews, networking, and job offers from top employers. NSBE has established a solid foundation. Ready to take this to the next level. nsbe.org.

  • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) - the National Convention served as the largest annual gathering of Hispanic STEM talent, providing undergrads with access to a career expo featuring interviews, job offers, and prize competitions. Programs like MentorSHPE connected students to mentors and employers, fostering direct pathways to internships and entry-level roles in engineering and tech. shpe.org.

  • Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) - the 2025 NDiSTEM Conference and Student Programs was the nation's premier multicultural STEM diversity event, drawing thousands for professional development sessions, a career expo, and networking that directly linked underrepresented undergrads (including Chicano, Hispanic, Native American, and Indigenous students) to job opportunities. sacnas.org.

  • Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) - Annual Conference and Research Poster Competition: GMiS's 2025 Conference in San Diego targeted underserved undergrads with sessions on STEM careers, a research poster competition offering prizes and visibility to employers, and networking events that accelerated job placements. The program focused on inspiring and empowering underrepresented students through direct connections to industry opportunities. greatmindsinstem.org.

Interested in matchmaking or mentoring in this area. We can open doors together and the young professionals can reap the rewards. Reply/DM — this will be a core Miraj Consulting service.

6. Upcoming Events & Conferences

I will be attending a few of these events — reach out if you will be there as well.

Next Edition

A focus on bio-med technologies as related to the DOD. More on university matchmaking opportunities (hopefully with approved authorization: Go Congress Go!; Go Congress Go!). Reply for intros or proposal packaging. Forward to a colleague?

Rashid Miraj, D.Sc. | Miraj Consulting LLC | [email protected] |

@MirajConsult
www.linkedin.com/in/rashid-miraj

571-201-7594

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