Major General Ted F. Bowlds, AFRL commander, signs an agreement between AFRL and the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory as Mr. Jack Blackhurst, technical advisor, AFRL Plans and Programs Office; Dr. Al Sattelberger, Argonne’s interim associate laboratory director for applied science and technology; and Dr. Sandra Biedron, director of Argonne’s Department of Defense Project Office, look on (photo by George Joch).

AFRL and Argonne National Lab Team Up to Leverage Resources

Published Aug. 28, 2007
By HQ AFRL
HQ AFRL

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Major General Ted F. Bowlds, AFRL commander, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with officials from the US Department of Energy's Argonne
National Laboratory that promises to save taxpayer dollars and speed the delivery of technological advances to American military forces. The new relationship between AFRL and Argonne will provide an opportunity to establish a common and consistent path into the respective technology bases of each facility.

The MOU will promote cooperative exchange of technical requirements and science and technology information, and will result in mutually leveraged program development resources between the two labs. Officials expect the agreement will improve the cost, schedule, and performance goals associated with developing critical technologies for the nation through the coordination of related efforts and information exchanges. AFRL and Argonne are already working to evaluate material properties for titanium alloys, nanoparticles, and polymers. This collaborative research effort will leverage some of the top research scientists and facilities in the country, helping to meet the needs and requirements of emerging national and homeland security challenges.