Random conversation in Matt McGrath’s office a couple years ago after reading Nick Chrisman’s book we all knew

US government creates the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to jump-start new efforts in science and technology

• US government creates the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to jump-start new efforts in science and technology

• In response to Sputnik, initially intended to coordinate and accelerate US military space programs
• Chartered with “preventing technological surprise”
• From 1958-1965, ARPA's emphasis centered on major national issues, including space, ballistic missile defense, and nuclear test detection
• ARPA redefined its role and concentrated on a diverse set of relatively small, exploratory research programs
• ARPA was renamed DARPA in 1972