(
Defense
Advanced
Research
Projects
Agency) The U.S. military agency responsible for technology projects. Founded as the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in 1958, it was renamed DARPA in 1972, then back to ARPA in 1993 and once again back to DARPA in 1996. DARPA is a small agency that assumes the role of "technological engine" for the Department of Defense and is involved in evaluating future systems. Over the years, DARPA has made huge contributions to information technology. See
ARPAnet.