About the ICD Foundation

The Industry Commons for Defense (ICD) Foundation is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating defense innovation through collaborative frameworks.

Our Mission

To establish a collaborative framework that enables transparent, modular, and sovereign-aligned collaboration across government, FFRDCs, UARCs, and industry partners in defense technology development.

Our Vision

A defense ecosystem where innovation flows freely between trusted partners, where security and collaboration coexist, and where the best technologies reach warfighters faster than ever before.

Core Values

  • Collaboration: Multi-stakeholder participation across government and industry
  • Innovation: Rapid deployment of cutting-edge technologies
  • Transparency: Open governance and clear decision-making processes
  • Security: Cyber-hardened frameworks with comprehensive audit trails
  • Sovereignty: Respect for national security and allied partnerships

Governance Structure

ICD Steering Body (ICD-SB)

A nonprofit, IETF-modeled body focused on defense applications. The ICD-SB guides technical implementation and maintains the framework's integrity.

Technical Steering Committees (TSCs)

Government-led, defense-only committees that ratify standards proposed by PEOs/PMs and submit recommendations to the ICD-SB for approval.

Government Oversight

OUSW A&S and R&E provide policy guidance, participate in ICD-SB (non-voting), manage classification/release, and ensure alignment with DoW objectives.

501(c)(6) Status

The ICD Foundation operates as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, providing a neutral forum for industry collaboration while maintaining compliance with federal regulations and defense security requirements.

This structure enables the Foundation to facilitate multi-stakeholder collaboration while ensuring proper governance, transparency, and accountability in defense technology development.

Contact Information

For inquiries about partnerships, pilot programs, or general information:

[email protected]