Army presents annual Research and Development Laboratory Awards: - Army acquisition support center news release, Oct 7, 2003 - As We Go To Press

Program Manager, Sept-Dec, 2003

FORT BELVOIR, Va.--The Honorable Claude M. Bolton Jr., the Army Acquisition Executive and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, and Army Lt. Gen. John S. Caldwell Jr., Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, presented the annual Research and Development Laboratory (RDL) Awards at the 2003 Army Acquisition Corps Ball October 5th at the Grand Hyatt Regency, Crystal City, Va.

"All 15 Army labs competed in this year's competition and are to be commended for their outstanding research efforts and warfighter focus, as well as their support to Soldiers during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and national Homeland Defense," Secretary Bolton remarked.

"The rankings were close and the selection committee had an especially difficult time choosing this year's winners," Bolton continued. "This is a tremendous testament to the health and strength of the Army's labs and the significant contributions their people are making to Army transformation and readiness."

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY OF THE YEAR (SMALL LAB CATEGORY)

The Research and Development Laboratory of the Year (Small Lab Category) Award was presented to the Natick Soldier Center (NSC) for technology generation, application, transition, and rapid fielding of equipment, and technology acceleration through strategic partnering and leveraging. NSC developed the Scorpion Soldier Platform achieving major breakthroughs in human factors engineering, biomechanics, anthropometrics, and technology integration into the human platform.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY OF EXCELLENCE (LARGE LAB CATEGORY)

The Research and Development Laboratory of Excellence (Large Lab Category) Award was presented to the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) for its advanced warhead development. ARDEC created a single liner Explosively Formed Penetrator resulting in a 60 percent increase in armor penetration over current warheads. ARDEC also implemented Lean/Six Sigma processes that resulted in more than $700 million in life cycle cost savings from completed projects.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY OF THE YEAR (LARGE LAB CATEGORY)

The Research and Development Laboratory of the Year (Large Lab Category) Award was presented to the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) for one-stop life cycle engineering, technical and scientific support for aviation and missile weapon systems and their support systems, including Unmanned Aviation Vehicle platforms, robotic ground vehicles, and various other systems.

Specifically, AMRDEC's Low-Cost Precision Kill Advanced Technology Demonstration, a low-cost conversion, using commercially available components, transformed the current HYDRA-70 unguided rocket into a precision strike weapon providing HELLFIRE level of accuracy with a cost reduction factor of 86 percent.

In addition, AMRDEC's implementation of an innovative, highly responsive Prototype Integration Facility helped it quickly develop and rapidly exploit technology, transitioning to fielded solutions in hours, days, or weeks rather than years.

"The Army's labs are the enablers for the achievement of the Army Vision, its objectives and the Army's transformation to the Future Force," Caldwell stated. "These exceptional research and development organizations, like those recognized here tonight, will continue to provide the unmatched technical advantage in support of our non-negotiable contract with the American people to fight and win our Nation's wars," he concluded.

The RDL awards program was established in 1975 to honor Army research and development labs that have made outstanding contributions in science and technology, providing the Army's warfighters with the best capabilities in the world. The RDL awards recognize labs for their outstanding contributions and their impact on enhancing the capability of Army operational forces worldwide.

(For additional information about ASC, visit http://asc.rdaisa.army.mil. Media Contact: Mike Roddin, Director, Strategic Communications, (703) 805-1035 or e-mail michael.roddin@asc.belvoir.army.mil)