Mission Area
Special Operations
Creating Disruptive Capabilities that Enable Special and Intelligence Operations to Rapidly Characterize and Defeat Asymmetric Threats
APL’s Special Operations Mission Area drives emerging technologies for special and intelligence operations for select sponsors within the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. We serve as a trusted technical adviser for research, development, and acquisition programs, as well as end-to-end technology developers and engineers for proof-of-concept systems and capabilities. We also serve as a quick-reaction capability for our sponsors’ most urgent problems across the globe.
Leadership
Donna Gregg Sector Head, Asymmetric Operations
Learn more about Donna Gregg
Louis Colangelo Mission Area Executive, Special Operations
Learn more about Louis Colangelo
Research Areas
To meet the challenges of great power competition, APL’s Special Operations Mission Area manages an internal research and development program to pursue technologies and concepts in several research areas.
Recent News
News
Jan 7, 2025
Nimble Cellular Networks Keep Tactical Users Connected
Johns Hopkins APL researchers are contributing to the development of a mobile cellular system that can be installed in a small uncrewed aerial vehicle to give warfighters and first responders communications connectivity in austere environments.
Press Release
Mar 8, 2024
Assistant Secretary of Defense Maier Visits Johns Hopkins APL
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Christopher Maier visited APL’s research facilities and received briefings on artificial intelligence initiatives.