The impact of networking and information technology (NIT) is stunning. Virtually every human endeavor is affected as advances in NIT enable or improve domains such as scientific discovery, human health, education, the environment, national security, transportation, manufacturing, energy, governance, and entertainment. NIT is also a powerful engine for economic growth. The United States leads the world in both the science of NIT and the myriad uses that transform lives. U.S. leadership stems from a sustained Federal investment in fundamental NIT research and development (R&D) spanning more than sixty years, and a vibrant industrial base that converts the fruits of that research to products. The research addresses both core NIT capabilities and the increasingly diverse domains in which NIT plays a crucial role. The interplay of Federally-funded university and government agency research, privately funded industrial research, and entrepreneurial companies, together with the education and training that fuels innovation and productivity, clearly strengthens the Nation's prosperity, health, and security.