Meeting with Scientists, Engineers and Officers Who Design Equipment Highlights Areas to Improve Greater Mobility

Collaboration is key to identifying and aligning requirements and technology, and The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is taking that next step in helping DoD’s Rapid Reaction Technology Office Innovation Program in Army-specific areas.

Potomac Institute representatives, in support of RRTO, met with U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM) staff and others Feb. 5 and 6 to discuss the soldier and small unit operational energy needs of Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC), Natick and the military S&T community.

The RRTO Innovation Outreach process looks to introduce federal agencies to commercial technologies that may meet their needs.

The meeting, held at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, brought together scientists, engineers and officers who design, test and implement equipment for the Army and Marines, as well as technical experts. The two-day meeting highlighted areas where commercial technologies could improve the warfighters effectiveness by reducing the weight of gear while improving energy management and allowing for greater mobility. In addition, the meeting brought to light the need for collaboration among the laboratories responsible for development and the program offices setting requirements.

Moving forward, Potomac Institute will help identify potential commercial technologies and developers who could meet RDECOM’s needs. The challenges described in the meeting will be posted on FedBizOpps.com for commercial industry to address.