What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN: This is a declassified technical report, AD-A199457, from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, released through The Black Vault. The report is dated June 1985 and discusses the continuation of the Journal of Defense Research. The document is notable for its insight into the Defense Science Board's review of the JDR and the recommendations made to continue its publication. PROVENANCE: The document was released through a Freedom of Information Act request and is available on The Black Vault's website. The canonical PDF can be found at documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/osd/a199457.pdf. THE DOCUMENT: Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Journal of Defense Research (JDR) June 1985 Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering Washington, D.C. 20301 Office of the Secretary of Defense Washington, D.C. 20301 Defense Science Board To: Members of the Defense Science Board Task Force On Journal of Defense Research (JDR) From: Harold Rosenbaum, Chairman Date: 1] June 1985 CC: File Enclosed for your review and comments is a draft of our final report. I am enclosing for your Information the letters from Secretary Taft and Dr. Wade Implementing our recommendations. Again, thanks for your help. Harold Rosenbaum, Chairman iii THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON. DC 20301-3010 6 JUN 85 RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING MEMORANDUM FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF ARMY (RDA) ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF NAVY (RES) ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF AIR FORCE (RDL) Subject: Journal of Defense Research The Journal of Defense Research (JDR), since 1969, has published defense related classified research, development and experimentation. The intent is to selectively rake available the peer refereed results of classified research and to serve as an archival Journal of this information to be used by future researchers. [redacted under exemption B1] The Defense Science Board recently completed a review of the JDR at the request of Mr. Taft, Deputy Secretary of Defense. Mr. Taft concluded that the JDR is a mission essential journal for defense related research and development and directed publication be continued, encouraged, and improved (copy attached). CONTEXT: The Deputy Secretary of Defense, Mr. Taft, wrote a memorandum to the Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, on May 4, 1985, stating that the Journal of Defense Research should be continued due to its mission essential nature and lack of duplication with other sources. OUTRO: This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. The Defense Science Board's review of the Journal of Defense Research provides insight into the decision-making process behind the continuation of a classified research publication. The document is available at storyflo.com and documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/osd/a199457.pdf.

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

Case · DAILY-031

OSD technical report (a199457)

JUL 5 · 2026Narrated by daily-declassified-osd-technical-report-a1994574 minLast updated July 5, 2026

The short version

COLD OPEN: This is a declassified technical report, AD-A199457, from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, released through The Black Vault. The report is dated June 1985 and discusses the continuation of the Journal of Defense Research.

Date: JUL 5 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

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What was OSD technical report (a199457) about?: COLD OPEN: This is a declassified technical report, AD-A199457, from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, released through The Black Vault. The report is dated June 1985 and discusses the continuation of the Journal of Defense Research.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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