Research Staff

IDA researchers – 90 percent of whom have earned advanced degrees – solve tough, urgent scientific and technical problems. Our objective analyses undergird decisions made by the Nation's top leaders.

IDA debate
IDA researcher
IDA debate IDA researcher

Since 1956, senior officials in the federal government have turned to IDA for our

  • Deep expertise spanning most scientific and engineering disciplines
  • Strict avoidance of personal and organizational conflicts of interest
  • Exceptional objectivity
  • Reliable discretion
  • Superior rigor in review of research
  • Profound understanding of the national security environment and its long-term requirements
  • Highly disciplined cost management
  • Substantial front-line expertise in operations
  • Workforce exceedingly motivated to assist government decision-making

Diverse and Interdisciplinary

Government sponsors ask IDA's help in understanding exceptionally varied problems. For each project, research teams possessing the precisely necessary variety of scientific and technical disciplines – and representing disparate life experiences – are assembled from across the Institute's divisions. IDA's flat organization and culture of internal collaboration allow researchers to easily and collegially interact with each other and the Institute's leaders.