War was over. Te fall of the Soviet empire had led to tighter U.S. defense budgets, and the Base Realignment and Closure Commission was in its second phase. Tere were calls to reduce defense spending even more. One Army research lab had already been targeted for closure.


LOOKING TO THE FUTURE


ARL’s Electronics Program seeks to generate new fundamental knowledge of electromagnetic, photonic and acoustic devices, systems and phenomena to provide technological superiority to the Army’s future force. The Open Campus fosters a focus on basic research looking far into the future—the mix of perspectives from inside and outside the Army can lead to breakthroughs. (Photos courtesy of ARL)


“In today’s climate, with government downsizing and constrained resources, requirements for the Army research pro- gram are growing,” Lyons wrote. “Tis paradoxical situation of having to do more with less actually offered new opportunities.”


Twenty years on, ARL’s ties to indus- try, academia and small businesses are stronger than ever. With defense spend- ing ever more austere, ARL’s partnerships are vital to the research needed to serve the warfighter. An “open campus” lets researchers from industry, small busi- nesses, universities, other government facilities and foreign nations get in on the front end of the basic research that can lead to breakthroughs for military and civilian uses. Te lab uses cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) to form partnerships for basic research, which can extend from concept, such as when an idea is put on paper— say, the creation of a new polymer—to when someone suggests that the polymer could have protective properties against a chemical attack if applied to an M1A1 Abrams


tank. Ten, very limited con- trolled testing begins. NEW APPROACHES EXPAND ON LONG HISTORY


An electronics technician works in the Diamond Ordnance Fuze Laboratories (DOFL) Model Shop a half-century ago. DOFL, which made significant fuze contributions in areas such as printed circuits, flow and temperature measurement, reserve power supplies, air navigation systems and nuclear effects studies, evolved to become one of seven Army laboratories that merged to form ARL in 1992.


“Tere’s not enough money. Tere are other countries that can do what we do, and they’re advancing science and tech- nology at an enormous pace,” said Forch.


“DOD can’t do it on its own. We need industry, we need universities, we need to work side by side with them. … When you collaborate, it’s not about having somebody come to one of your program


ASC.ARMY.MIL 179


THEN & NOW


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