Have you ever tried connecting some innovative technology to a military network only to be overwhelmed by the complex and protracted authorization process?
That process is called the Risk Management Framework or RMF. The concept originated in the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2014 as a concept for use by all Federal agencies to protect their computer networks from cyber exploitation.
The Department of Defense (DoD) produces more classified documents than any other organization in the United States. These documents ultimately windup being destroyed, often by pulverization. As a result, a sizable waste stream is created.
We have just completed the fall meetings of the SERDP Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). I don’t know if it is generally recognized how valuable the SAB is to SERDP so I want to spend a little time this week expanding on that premise.
At a recent award ceremony held by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Land and Emergency Management, an Intergovernmental Data Quality Task Force Team was awarded an EPA Bronze Medal for their work in developing a Quality Assurance Project Plan template to support the implementation of Geophysical Classification technologies developed by SERDP and ESTCP.
In 2014, SERDP invited proposals toward development of environmentally sustainable monopropellants, hypergolic bipropellants, and gas generators that avoid the use of hydrazines for divert-attitude control systems (DACS) and other liquid rocket propulsion systems. Two projects were selected and have since been working toward meeting the objectives stated within the Statement of Need.
Energy consumption in buildings is largely driven by the building envelope, as it is one of the primary determinants in how comfort and indoor air quality are maintained. Approximately 35% of energy consumption in buildings is used to maintain a comfortable and safe indoor environment. Building envelope leakages caused by either unconditioned air infiltrating into the building or conditioned air leaking out through cracks/openings in the building result in significant increase to the building energy use due to increase in the heating and/or cooling load.
SERDP and ESTCP are continuing research and demonstrations to address issues associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). In addition to the projects described in a previous blog, we have a number of new efforts underway.
SERDP supported research was recently featured in the news. The video highlights the specially designed wind tunnel that is used for simulating how wildfires burn in different environments. This project has a large team of researchers from several different organizations including, the University of Edinburgh, Worchester Polytechnic Institute, Michigan State University, West Virginia University, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Kucera International.
In addition to the two Munitions Response technical sessions and the poster session at the upcoming SERDP and ESTCP Symposium, the Munitions Response Program Area is sponsoring two side meetings related to on-going projects.
U.S. Army Benét Laboratories at Watervliet Arsenal recently hosted an offsite Technical Committee meeting for the Weapon Systems and Platforms program area of SERDP and ESTCP. Benét Laboratories is responsible for the research, design, development, producibility, and field support for the Army’s large caliber cannons.