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The Marine Corps now has its own Science and Technology Laboratory, which provides the service with a focused method for introducing new technology into the force.
The Army, Navy, and Air Force have had such laboratories for many years.
However, the Corps did not always have a research department. The Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity recently received designation as a Science and Technology Reinvention Institute, according to a release from Marine Corps Systems Command.
The Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity, or a form of organization, has been around since the 1970s, predating Systems Command. The organization’s primary mission is to provide the Corps with worldwide technical support for command, control, computer, communications, cyber, and intelligence systems, according to its website.
This includes engineering, testing, evaluation and experimentation of communications-based systems for the Navy and Marine Corps in support of their acquisition.
The separate divisions within the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity are Combat Support, Test and Engineering, Infrastructure and Information Support, Resources, and Amphibious Vehicle Test Division and Operations.
In recent years, the organization has helped the Corps acquire new satellite communications systems, support on-the-move networking projects, build a virtual maritime network, and test the integration of amphibious combat vehicles and naval transport aircraft.
The designation gives the organization additional legislative authority, funding and construction options under the authority of Congress, according to the release.
The Institute for Science and Technology Reinvention designation states that the Institute will be “equipped with personnel and acquisition authorities to develop and scale a highly skilled technical workforce focused on delivering integrated naval capabilities.” “It will allow us to operate like a Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare Center,” said executive officer Timothy Grump. Director of the New Science and Technology Reinvention Institute.
This helps integrate another major project carried out across military branches: full-spectrum command and control.
The JADC2 program aims to connect all service communication platforms so that sensing and communication equipment of all services can be linked in a broader network.
“We are now in the best position to support the Service Joint All Domain Command and Control Initiative and other future capability developments,” said Col. Craig Clarkson, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity Commander.
This designation gives the Corps more funding and a mechanism to hire individuals to assist with acquisitions.
The Army has five separate commands and more than eight subordinate centers focused on various technologies with STRL designations. These include ground vehicle systems, chemical/biological systems, aviation and missiles.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and Joint Warfare Analysis Center is the Air Force’s Institute for Science and Technology Reinvention. The Navy has engineering, information systems, medical and maritime systems commands under the Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory program.
Todd South has written about crime, courts, government, and the military for multiple publications since 2004 and was a 2014 Pulitzer finalist for his co-authored project on witness intimidation. Todd is a veteran of the Iraq War.
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