In 2010, a National Defense University (NDU) research project called TIDES1 (Transformative Innovation for Development and Emergency Support) was invited to partner with a company to produce a tradeshow about humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions and related capabilities. Despite senior-level Department of Defense (DOD) guidance to pursue public-private partnerships, DOD attorneys told TIDES managers to reject the agreement. Differing legal interpretations of the word partner generated concern that the proposed partnership could create an impermissible perception of government endorsement of a private company. Even though it would have advanced the government’s mission and promoted efficiency, a variety of obstacles scuttled the proposed cooperation.

Additive manufacturing (AM)—commonly referred to as “three-dimensional” or “3D” printing—is a prospective game changer with implications and opportunities that affect not just the Department of Defense (DOD) but the economy as a whole. The technology allows the “art to part” fabrication of complex objects from a computer model without part-specific tooling or human intervention.1 AM has already impacted a variety of industries and has the potential to present legal and economic issues with its strong economic and health-care benefits. Because of its remarkable ability to produce a wide variety of objects, AM also can have significant national security implications. The purpose of this paper is to provide a general introduction to these issues for nontechnical readers through a survey of the recent history and the current state of technology. Included in this paper is a brief review identifying key individuals and organizations shaping developments as well as projected trends.

Key Points
• Additive Manufacturing is becoming more cost-effective and widely available. Products ranging from titanium components to human tissue can now be “printed.” Its use is increasing dramatically with new materials and applications, so national security opportunities and challenges must be addressed proactively.
• National security advantages come from manufacturing and medical applications, namely, the ability to create specialized parts cheaply from an ever-growing list of materials. Additive manufacturing could reduce material use, build time, weight, and delivery times. This will bear directly on U.S. security operations.
• The ubiquity of this technology means that these advantages will be available to consumers and America’s rivals. Its consumer applications may create legal challenges.
• This technology could be part of a U.S. manufacturing revolution, allowing innovation and production especially when considered with other technologies.