| AFOSR | Air Force Office of Scientific Research |
| AI | artificial intelligence |
| CIA | Central Intelligence Agency |
| CRADA | Cooperative Research and Development Agreement |
| CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies |
| CTIO | chief technology and innovation officer |
| CUI | controlled unclassified information |
| DARPA | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency |
| DDNI | Deputy Director of National Intelligence |
| DHS | Department of Homeland Security |
| DNI | Director of National Intelligence |
| DoD | Department of Defense |
| DOE | Department of Energy |
| D/S&T | Director for Science and Technology (ODNI) |
| FAR | Federal Acquisition Regulations |
| FFRDC | federally funded research and development center |
| FVEY | Five Eyes |
| FY | fiscal year |
| IARPA | Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity |
| IC | Intelligence Community |
| IP | intellectual property |
| IPA | Intergovernmental Personnel Act |
| ITAR | International Traffic in Arms Regulations |
| JDA | joint duty assignment |
| NASA | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| NATO | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| NGA | National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency |
| NIH | National Institutes of Health |
| NIM | National Intelligence Manager |
| NIO | National Intelligence Officer |
| NISTC | National Intelligence Science and Technology Committee |
| NITRD | Networking and Information Technology Research and Development |
| NNSA | National Nuclear Security Administration |
| NRO | National Reconnaissance Office |
| NSA | National Security Agency |
| NSF | National Science Foundation |
| NSS | National Security Strategy |
| NSTC | National Science and Technology Council |
| ODNI | Office of the Director of National Intelligence |
| ONR | Office of Naval Research |
| OSINT | Open Source Intelligence |
| OSTP | Office of Science and Technology Policy |
| R&D | research and development |
| RFP | request for proposals |
| S&T | science and technology |
| S&TI | science and technology intelligence |
| TDY | Temporary Duty |
| TRL | technology readiness level |
| UARC | university affiliated research center |
| USGCRP | U.S. Global Change Research Program |