Penn State Receives $25 Million Marine Corps Research University Contract
August 22, 2003
University Park, Pa. --- Penn State has received a new contract from the United States Marine Corps, worth up to $25 million over 18 months, to provide research and educational services to the Corps.
The United States Marine Corps designated Penn State its Marine Corps Research University (MCRU) in 1999 and, at that time, awarded the University a contract worth $42.5 million over five years.
Ron Madrid, MCRU associate director and program manager, says, "Based on Penn State's services to the Marine Corps, the initial contract ceiling was increased to $49.5 million in October 2002. This new 18-month, $25 million contract is the second one designating Penn State the MCRU."
About 50 Penn State faculty and staff members and more than 60 graduate students from five colleges and the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) participate in MCRU projects. For example, researchers in the College of Health and Human Development are evaluating Marine Corps family support and family advocacy programs. Investigators in the College of the Liberal Arts and the Smeal College of Business Administration are evaluating the Marine Corps Recruiting Process and offering recommendations to enhance the Corps's ability to recruit and retain Marines.
In addition, the Smeal College provides numerous logistics education programs through the MCRU to the Marine Corps, the other military services and the U.S. Defense Logistic Agency. For example, the College offers an Installation Commander's course annually for Marine Corps general officers and their senior staffs.
Faculty, staff and students in the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) and the College of Engineering participate in MCRU research programs in electro-optics, night vision systems and the use of lasers for the precise manufacture of semiconductors. ARL personnel also conduct research and prototype development for information systems, communications and electronics applications.
In addition ARL researchers are developing a prototype, all-purpose, chemical-biological agent detector to help the Marine Corps and Homeland Defense agencies to identify toxins on the battlefield or other environments. Along with researchers from the College of Engineering and the School of Information Sciences and Technology, ARL staff members have also developed manpower management systems for active and reserve Marines.
Through MCRU, basic research and component improvement programs are also conducted at Penn State for the Joint Strike Fighter, the V-22, the Expeditionary Warfighting Vehicle, and the Mobil Electronic Warfare Support System.
MCRU projects also receive support from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations command, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
**bah**