DARPA—the agency that has funded substantial artificial intelligence research in the United States—is part of which U.S. federal department?

Introduction / Context:
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been a central funder of pioneering research in AI, robotics, networking, and computer vision. Knowing where DARPA sits within the U.S. government helps contextualize its mission and the types of programs it supports.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• DARPA is an advanced R&D agency in the United States.
• It sponsors high-risk, high-reward projects with defense relevance.
• We are identifying its parent department.

Concept / Approach:
DARPA is part of the U.S. Department of Defense. Since its founding (originally as ARPA), its mandate has been to maintain the technological lead of the U.S. military and prevent strategic surprise. AI programs funded by DARPA often have dual-use impact, seeding academic and commercial advances (e.g., autonomous vehicles, machine learning challenges).

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Recall the full name: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.2) The word “Defense” indicates its departmental alignment.3) Eliminate other departments as inconsistent with the mission and name.4) Choose Department of Defense.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official descriptions and program announcements identify DARPA as an agency of the Department of Defense, collaborating with the military services and research labs.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Energy / Education / Justice: Major departments, but they do not house DARPA.
• None of the above: Incorrect because Defense is correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing DARPA with other research agencies like NSF or DOE's ARPA-E (which is part of Energy but distinct from DARPA).

Final Answer:
Defense