What's in a Name? Episode 93

What's in a Name? Episode 93

From Voices from DARPA by DARPA

May 20, 2026

About this episode

This episode explores DARPA's organizational pivot and the rationale behind renaming two key tech offices.

What does it take to solve the world's most urgent national security and economic challenges? At DARPA, it starts with questioning past assumptions. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a major organizational pivot to hear directly from the office leaders driving the change. We unpack the "why" behind the new names on the doors of two tech offices: The Multi X Office ( MXO ): Formerly the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), MXO is breaking down the walls between physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science. Learn how this integrated approach aims to secure critical supply chains and build resilient physical capabilities. The Information Processing Techniques Office ( IPTO ): Reaching back to a legendary name from DARPA’s history, the former Information Innovation Office (I2O) is focusing on the first principles of computational power and resiliency that will be required to invent the next forward-looking breakthrough technologies for national security. Listen in to hear how DARPA is retooling its strategy, embracing massive scale, and transforming its structure to secure America's future. MXO IPTO Smash Promethean Clay Crystal Palace IPTO history

Topics covered

  • national security
  • organizational change
  • technology integration
  • computational power
  • supply chain resilience

Keywords

  • DARPA
  • national security
  • Multi X Office
  • Information Processing Techniques Office
  • organizational change

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: DARPA, Multi X Office, Microsystems Technology Office, Information Processing Techniques Office, Information Innovation Office

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