Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2018)

Coast Guard R&D Center

About the Author

Dr. DiRenzo is the Director of Research

The U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC)

Partnerships at the Coast Guard RDC.

U.S. COAST GUARD R&D

A retired USCG of? cer who had a? oat in New London, Connecticut, is the service’s only command conduct- command, he is also RDC’s Project ing research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) support for

Manager for the Center’s Arti? cial Intel- all 11 statutory missions. ligence Disaster Response project.

Since its commissioning in 1972, RDC was done in conjunction with Borders pleted ? eld testing of a tracker designed projects of mutual bene? t. Several RDC has been involved in over 2,000 projects and Maritime Security (BMD), a divi- to support units in pursuit of suspected efforts stand to pro? t from this partner- and initiatives that have signi? cantly sion of the Department of Homeland narcotics smugglers who have jettisoned ship, including 3-D printing, Arctic op- bene? ted the Coast Guard and the com- Security (DHS) Science and Technol- their loads. The tests were completed in erations, modeling and simulation, cy- ponents of the Maritime Transportation ogy (S&T) Directorate, and has placed San Francisco Bay and exceeded expec- ber research, and satellite technology to

System. a renewed emphasis on partnership en- tations. include CubeSats. Capt. Greg Rothrock,

As the demand for research and de- gagement. The joint effort with DHS, The emphasis on partnerships took commanding of? cer of RDC, and Major velopment capability grows within the S&T and BMD is of? cially designated a quantum leap forward with the ? rst General William Cooley, commander of service, RDC has adapted an approach the Science and Technology Innovation ever Memorandum of Understanding AFRL, signed the document in a cere- to project engagement built around three Center, or STIC. This capability is a col- (MOU) between RDC and the Air Force mony hosted at AFRL headquarters. words: meaningful, relevant and impact- laborative effort dedicated to leveraging Research Lab. The MOU established “RDC is very excited about this new ful (MRI). This focus has ensured that innovation, prototyping and rapid in- a framework for immediate joint col- af? liation with AFRL,” Rothrock said. the Center has an exceptionally high tegration of high-technology readiness laboration for engagement; including “Establishing an MOU is just the start of transition rate drawn from its nearly level (TRL) solutions to answer the op- long-duration UAS, pilot laser strike what we see as a long-term relationship 70-strong project portfolio. In addition erational challenges of the Coast Guard protection, and overseas technical en- to collaborate where we can on common to this concerted effort focused on tran- and DHS. It was conceived as a response gagements involved in advanced capa- research that bene? ts both the Coast sition, the Center has established a rapid to former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson’s bilities for force protection. In addition, Guard and Air Force.” prototyping and testing capability to “unity of effort” initiative. The STIC, the MOU allows greater opportunity for RDC has also seen some unique part- ? eld solutions to the ? eet quickly. This with six active projects, recently com- RDC and AFRL to work together on nerships within its own service. One

U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez

USCG Photo courtesy of Research and Development Center

Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Charles Michel,

U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Greg Rothrock, Coast Guard Research inspects a Maritime Object Tracker Technology (MOTT) while and Development Center commanding of? cer, and Air Force

Tim Hughes explains the history and capabilities of the de-

Maj. Gen. William Cooley, Air Force Research Laboratory com- vice, during a technology demonstration at Coast Guard Re- mander, shake hands April 12, 2018, at Wright-Patterson Air search and Development Center, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, in

Force Base, Ohio, after they signed a MOU which allows USCG

New London, Connecticut.

RDC and AFRL to work together on tasks of mutual bene? t. 10 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • MAY 2018

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