September 2026
During World War II, the government established federally funded research and development centers, or FFRDCs, to take on complex challenges that government or industry couldn’t solve alone.
The model paved the way for MITRE’s objective and mission-focused approach.
Here, we fly close to the mission. That proximity has given us the unique ability to develop targeted capabilities across government, missions, agencies, and domains.
Our expertise has evolved with sponsor needs, and we take on many of the nation’s toughest challenges. To name a few: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure resilience, systems and mission engineering.
How it started: In 1958, the U.S. Air Force launched the country’s first air defense system. The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment — SAGE for short — was a response to growing nuclear threats from the Soviet Union.
Facing a never-ending set of engineering tasks as defense contractors unveiled new equipment for the effort, the government needed a trusted adviser without a profit motive to run point on the program. MITRE was born to meet the need.
How it’s going: Today, we lead six of the nation’s 41 FFRDCs and count the American public as our only stakeholders.
7-minute read time
OUR CULTURE IN ACTION
Analyst Credits Culture of ‘Yes’ With Advancing Public Interest Mission
What do improv comedy and healthcare reform have in common? Danielle Lohan, a healthcare analyst in MITRE’s Center for Transforming Health, says both of her passions lead back to saying ‘yes.’
Takeaway: “It’s about elevating someone else’s idea and synthesizing it,” she says. “Improv is a lot like policymaking because it’s all about listening and teamwork.”
FIGHTING FINANCIAL FRAUD
Banks Join Forces to Fight Financial Fraud
Financial fraud costs banks billions of dollars annually, while increasingly sophisticated scams challenge both fraud and cyber defense teams. To help address this growing threat, MITRE’s Center for Threat-Informed Defense brought together leading financial institutions, including Citi, JPMorganChase, and Lloyds Banking Group, to create the MITRE Fight Fraud Framework™ (F3), giving fraud analysts and cyber defenders a common language for describing adversary behavior, analyzing attacks, sharing information, and strengthening defenses.
Stronger together: F3 is freely available and designed to evolve as new threats emerge.
PIN DROP
Making MITRE’s Public-Interest Mission Tangible
A bipartisan group of Massachusetts legislators and legislative staff representing the Legislature’s Emerging Technology and Coastal Caucuses visited MITRE’s Bedford headquarters. The delegation brought together policymakers with interests spanning emerging technology, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, microelectronics, and the state’s maritime economy.
Why it Matters: “We are fortunate that, right here in Massachusetts, and specifically in Bedford, we have assembled some of the brightest minds in the country who are dedicated to keeping us safe and supporting our innovative technology in a unique and creative way,” said Representative Ken Gordon of Bedford.
Bottom Line: “When policymakers see capabilities like the BlueTech and Advanced Manufacturing labs firsthand, they understand how MITRE can support the Commonwealth—and help connect companies and innovators in their communities with technical resources that can accelerate testing, reduce risk, and move promising technologies forward,” said MITRE’s Glenn Daly, vice president, Center for Engineering and Analysis.
NEW APPOINTMENT
MITRE Director Appointed to Air Force Scientific Advisory Board
The U.S. Air Force and Space Force depend on the nation’s brightest minds to develop and deploy cutting edge technology advancing their mission. Its Scientific Advisory Board plays a key role by providing independent, data-driven advice about emerging technologies and national security challenges.
Fresh expertise strengthens readiness: Earlier this summer, the Air Force appointed 14 new members to the board, including MITRE’s Josh G. Erling, Ph.D.
JOIN US
ATT&CKcon 7.0 is Around the Corner
If you want to connect with some of cybersecurity’s leading voices, ATT&CKcon 7.0 (October 27 – 28, 2026) in McLean, Va., and virtually, is the place to be. Register here.
A stacked lineup of speakers will cover defense strategies, emerging trends, and actionable insights. Additionally, MITRE’s ATT&CK® team will provide an exclusive preview of what’s coming in 2027.
Why it matters: From small businesses to giant corporations, ATT&CK is the global gold standard for transforming cyber threat data into strategic advantage.