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platform provided was signi? cant to the hosting Coast Guard

Sector and Station.

The RDC, located in New London CT, has 82 staff mem- bers, and consistently delivers impactful products designed to support the operational and tactical components in completion of their mission. In ? scal year 2023, the RDC completed 16 research projects and delivered 69 products to the Coast Guard.

A great deal of the RDC portfolio focuses on strategic research but understanding the operational advantages and ef? ciencies of existing and emergent technology will always be a focus.

A particular challenge is to ? nd ways to energize the faster adoption of lower investment technology solutions to equip operators at the speed of need. RDC is fortunate to have lab partners in DoD like U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Develop- ment Command, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Of? ce of Naval Research, and in DHS like National Urban Security

Technology Laboratory and Customs and Border Protection that value research but also the need to put high readiness tech- nology into the hands of the Nation’s war? ghters and ? rst re- sponders as quickly as possible. RDC also turns to the private sector to help the Coast Guard with awareness of emergent technology and direct partnering of technology investigations.

If you are interested in working with this small, dedicated team in support of Coast Guard missions, watch for future

RDC requests for information and cooperative research and development agreement opportunities posted on

SAM.gov, Federal Register.gov or HSWERX.org, re- spectively. The Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral

Linda Fagan says, “Tomorrow looks different … so should we.” The Coast Guard RDC lives this every day with a sig- ni? cant focus on stopping illegal maritime smuggling.

The Author

DiRenzo

Dr. Joe DiRenzo is the Partnership Direc- tor at the USCG Research and Develop- ment Center. A career cutterman, he has also led the RDC’s Science and Technol- ogy Innovation Center (STIC).

The Author

Macesker

Bert Macesker is the RDC’s Executive Di- rector and is responsible for all facets of center operation. He has served at the

RDC for 30 years including stints as a Proj- ect Manager and Branch Chief.

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