The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) will demonstrate some of its groundbreaking technologies at the first ever Department of Defense (DoD) Lab Day, to be held at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. on May 14, 2015. The goal of the event is to increase awareness of DoD laboratory research projects and technology innovations with Pentagon senior leaders, members of Congress, participating local high school students, news media, and DoD employees.
"NRL is a place where the basic research for the next generation of capabilities is getting done—but we're also applying that knowledge, right now, to solve problems for today's fleet," says Capt. Mark Bruington, commanding officer of NRL. "You want a tougher armor, a better awareness of what's over your horizon? At NRL, we're doing that."
DoD Lab Day is designed to increase understanding of the complexity and diversity of defense laboratories. The products of 38,000 scientists and engineers at more than 60 labs across 22 states provide vital support to many missions, including global disaster relief and peace-keeping efforts.
NRL — along with the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and medical organizations — will provide visitors with a rare look at more than 100 innovations that are advancing the capabilities of our nation's military. Many of these innovations were sponsored by the Office of Naval Research and other funding organizations.
"The nation's top scientists come here and they stay here because the work is rewarding," says Dr. John Montgomery, Director of Research at NRL. "We bring together the best minds and give them the freedom they need to pursue these wild and interesting ideas. They collaborate with each other, and they form close relationships with the warfare centers and military users—that's where the real innovation and game-changing solutions catch fire."
NRL is advancing research in the areas most of interest to the Navy and Marine Corps, including autonomous and unmanned systems, alternative energy, information dominance, power projection, and warfighter performance. Providing the men and women in harm's way with what they need is one way to keep America and her allies always at the advantage, and NRL is proud of its 90-year legacy.
At DoD lab day, NRL will demonstrate:
-- Vantage: an airborne, unmanned platform to support electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
-- CICADA: an unmanned glider, nearly undetectable, that delivers payloads to precise waypoints.
-- Helmet Modifications to Mitigate Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): DoD is providing the best possible equipment to warfighters, but NRL is always looking for better solutions.
-- WindSat: a large satellite, in orbit today, that provides ocean surface wind vector measurements and other environmental parameters to help weather predictions.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work will speak at the opening ceremony for DoD Lab Day. The event is hosted by Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.
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