Argonne, Air Force Research Lab to collaborate on defense technologies, research
ARGONNE, Ill. (May 14, 2007) — Officials from the U.S. Department of Energy's
Argonne National Laboratory and the Air
Force Research Laboratory signed an
agreement today that promises to speed the delivery of technological advances
to American military forces while saving taxpayer dollars.
The memorandum of understanding will promote a cooperative exchange of technical
requirements, science and technology information and result in leveraged program
development between the two labs. Officials expect the agreement to improve
the cost, schedule and performance goals associated with developing critical
technologies for the nation through the coordination of related efforts and
information exchanges.
The new relationship between Argonne and the Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL) will provide an opportunity to establish a common and consistent path
into the respective technology bases of each facility. “Argonne and AFRL can
access each other's technologies and capabilities to meet our nation's needs,” according
to Sandra Biedron, director of Argonne's Department of Defense Project Office.
Also as part of the agreement, AFRL scientists will
have access to Argonne's world-class research facilities, such as the Advanced
Photon Source, the Intense Pulsed Neutron
Source, the Electron
Microscopy Center and the Center for Nanoscale
Materials. The AFRL will
include Argonne researchers in its Integrated Product Teams and other working
groups as appropriate.
Argonne laboratory director Robert Rosner predicts great advances for the
nation's security coming from this relationship. “This agreement provides an
opportunity to establish a common and consistent path into our respective technology
bases,” Rosner said. “This collaborative research effort will help meet the
needs and requirements of emerging national and homeland security challenges.”
Signing the agreement were Rosner and Maj. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, Commander of
the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
“This MOU with Argonne will enable AFRL and the Air Force to leverage some
of the top research scientists and facilities in the country. In turn,
we will provide Argonne access to AFRL's finest scientists and resources. We
have already begun work with Argonne and already are seeing big payoffs,” said
Maj. Gen. Bowlds.
The Air Force Research Laboratory is responsible for the Air Force's $1.5
billion science and technology program as well as additional customer funded
research and development of $1.8 billion, leading to the discovery, development
and integration of affordable technologies for the U.S. Air Force. The lab
also oversees basic and applied research as well as advanced technologies that
support the Air Force.
Argonne conducts basic and applied research and development as well as rapid
prototyping to create scientific knowledge and technical solutions to meet
national challenges, including in the key areas of physical and biological
science and technology, clean and abundant energy sources, restoration and
protection of the environment, national and homeland security and nuclear nonproliferation.
Argonne National Laboratory brings
the world's brightest scientists and engineers together to find exciting and
creative new solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology.
The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic
and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne
researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities,
and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific
problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for
a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed
by UChicago
Argonne, LLC for
the U.S.
Department of Energy's Office
of Science.
For more information, please
contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov)
at Argonne.
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