In U.S. AI research history, the Strategic Computing Program (SCP) was a major government initiative. Which organization sponsored and managed this program?

Introduction / Context:
The Strategic Computing Program (SCP) was a significant U.S. government effort in the 1980s aimed at advancing computing and AI technologies for strategic applications. Identifying its sponsoring body is essential for understanding how public policy and defense priorities catalyzed AI research and infrastructure.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• SCP was a federal research initiative.
• Candidate organizations include DARPA, NSF, and JPL.
• We must choose the primary sponsor/manager of the program.

Concept / Approach:

DARPA—the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—within the U.S. Department of Defense, initiated and oversaw SCP. DARPA has a long track record of funding foundational computing research, including ARPANET, VLSI, and AI-related projects, aligning with the strategic aims of SCP.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Official histories and academic reviews attribute SCP to DARPA management, confirming the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

National Science Foundation: Civilian basic research focus; not the SCP sponsor.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory: NASA center; not the SCP managing agency.

All of the above / None: Both inconsistent with the historical record.

Common Pitfalls:

Conflating multiple U.S. research agencies; SCP specifically traces to DARPA's strategic computing agenda.

Final Answer:

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency