A strong science and technology (S&T) program has been vitally important to American national security since World War II and has to date given the United States a strategic advantage over competitors. During World War II and throughout the C old War, highly specific and large-scale technology needs led to the concentration of national security S&T (NSST) programs in a few agencies, with little cross-agency coordination. Since the end of the Cold War, circumstances have changed greatly. Meeting new and e merging threats to national security-from global climate change to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and global terrorism -requires an effective mechanism for direction, funding, and integration of the highly fragmented and very wide range of Federally supported S&T.