EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER (ECBC)

ECBC is the nation's principal research and development center for non-medical chemical and biological defense. Tracing its roots back to 1917, ECBC leverages its many years of experience with live agents to develop and enhance chemical and biological protection, detection and decontamination systems. This expertise also is leveraged to provide field support, risk reduction, materiel management and agent handling services. While its primary customer is the military, ECBC also supports homeland defense initiatives by partnering with many federal, state and local agencies. ECBC has more than 25 unique facilities providing full life-cycle support to chemical and biological defense research and development.  Participants will visit ECBC facilities engaged in engineering and prototyping activities, personal protective equipment design, and advanced chemical and biological agent detection research.

                                                               
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY (APL)

APL is the largest division of the world renowned Johns Hopkins University.  APL’s technology shapers and problem solvers meet the nation’s most critical challenges through research, development, testing and operational support for a wide variety of sponsors.  The visit to APL will focus on research in air defense and space science.

ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

USAMRIID, (Fort Detrick, Maryland) conducts basic and applied research on biological threats resulting in medical solutions to protect military service members.

USAMRIID, an organization of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, is the lead medical research laboratory for the U.S. Biological Defense Research Program. The Institute plays a key role as the only laboratory in the Department of Defense (DoD) equipped to study highly hazardous infectious agents requiring maximum containment at biosafety level (BSL)-4.

As the center of excellence for DoD medical biological defense research, USAMRIID’s challenge is to maintain its world-class scientific and technology base while being responsive to its primary customer.

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB

The Naval Research Laboratory, a vital and innovative research institution with a proud, 85-year heritage of discovery and invention -- As the Department of the Navy’s corporate laboratory, NRL performs a wide range of basic and applied research leading to future naval materials, components, sensors, systems, and capabilities. 

NRL conducts a broadly based multidisciplinary program of scientific research and advanced technological development directed toward maritime applications of new and improved materials, techniques, equipment, systems, and ocean, atmospheric, and space sciences and related technologies. To meet this goal, NRL provides 

...primary in-house research for the physical, engineering, space, and environmental sciences; 
...broadly based exploratory and advanced development programs in response to identified and anticipated Navy needs; 
... broad multidisciplinary support to the Naval Warfare Centers; 
... and space and space systems technology development and support. 

NRL’s most important asset is its people. We number 2555*, including 767 Ph.D.’s, a Nobel laureate, and many aspirants. NRL scientists, engineers, and support personnel work in a campus-like atmosphere that fosters creative thought and encourages interdisciplinary studies. Research collaborations are not only NRL-wide, but extend to other professionals in government, academia, and industry. NRL has world-class facilities, attract and retain highly qualified staff, and take pride in the publications, patents, and licenses that recognize the accomplishments of their work.   NRL's r primary mission is  to perform the research necessary to ensure the technological superiority of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps against any threat. 

NRL places a high value on scientific and technical excellence, and on producing relevant research results. NRL's goal is to continue to create a nurturing climate for inventiveness and productivity that supports the needs of the Naval services and our nation.

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER--Carderock

The Carderock Division consists of approximately 3,200 scientists, engineers and support personnel working in more than 40 disciplines ranging from fundamental science to applied/in-service engineering. We are the Navy's experts for maritime technology. As a major component of the Naval Sea Systems Command the Carderock Division provides cradle-to-grave support for its technical products over an enormous range of scientific areas related to surface and undersea platforms. The Division addresses the full spectrum of applied maritime science and technology, from the theoretical and conceptual beginnings, through design and acquisition, to implementation and follow-on engineering. This includes all technical aspects of improving the performance of ships, submarines, military water craft, and unmanned vehicles, as well as research for military logistics systems. In addition, the Division is uniquely chartered by Congress to support America's maritime industry.

WALTER REED ARMY INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH (WRAIR)