Fort Detrick

21st Signal Brigade
The 21st U.S. Signal Brigade is a subordinate command of U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command & 9th Army Signal Command. It was originally activated as the U.S. Army Information Systems Test Command at Fort Ritchie, Md., on July 6, 1988. It was re-designated the 1108th U.S. Army Signal Brigade on April 1, 1989. On September 14, 1998, the 1108th U.S. Army Signal Brigade headquarters relocated from Fort Ritchie to Fort Detrick as a result of the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Action (BRAC), and due to reorganization, was re-designated the 21st Signal Brigade on October 16, 2003.
The brigade provides command, control, communications, computer and visual information systems for the nation's senior leadership.
The brigade's subordinate units are the 302d and 114th Signal Battalions and the 55th Signal Company at Fort Meade, Md.
302nd Signal Battalion
The 302nd Signal Battalion, "Gateway to Freedom," a subordinate unit of the 21st Signal Brigade, operates and maintains strategic communications systems as part of the Global Information Grid (GIG). The battalion has six geographically dispersed companies located at Fort Detrick, Md., Fort Meade, Md., Fort Belvoir, Va., Fort Bragg, N.C., and Camp Roberts, Calif.
114th Signal Battalion
The 114th Signal Battalion "Signal Masters of the Rock," plans, installs, operates, maintains, and protects battle command systems in support of the National Military Command Center-Raven Rock Mountain Complex (NMCC-RRMC), Warfighting Combatant Commanders, Department of Defense, other federal agencies and the RRMC during war and peacetime. They also serve as the Director of Information Management for the RRMC.
6th Medical Logistics Management Center
The 6th Medical Logistics Management Center (6MLMC) is a multi-component unit that provides centralized information management and logistics intelligence for medical materiel (Class VIII), medical equipment maintenance, and blood to deployed forces. The 6MLMC is a subordinateunit of the 44th Medical Command (Airborne) located at Fort Bragg, N.C.
The 6MLMC was established October 16, 2000, replacing the deactivated 6th Theater Medical Materiel Management Center. The 6MLMC's forward teams provide total asset and in-transit visibility for the medical commodity, both in the operational theater and en route to the deployed theater. The 6MLMC base unit links theater Class VIII commodity requirements with sourcing and distribution systems to get medical supplies and equipment into the theater. 6MLMC Forward Teams are fully engaged in supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In addition, the 6MLMC integrates and coordinates strategic medical logistics actions between the theater(s) and the service agencies responsible for medical logistics: U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, Europe, Air Force Medical Logistics Office, Naval Medical Logistics Command, and Defense Supply Center Philadelphia.
The 6MLMC's responsibilities include reviewing and analyzing demands and computing theater medical commodity requirements; evaluating the workload, capabilities, and asset positions of supported medical logistics battalions; directing cross-leveling of workload or resources to achieve capability and maximum efficiency; implementing the use of standard Army maintenance information systems for field medical units, and assisting in the sourcing and procurement of Class VIII support items within the continental United States.
55th Signal Battalion
The 55th Signal Battalion, formerly 1st Satellite Control Battalion (SATCON), represents not only the growth in the importance of space and space-related products of the Army, but also the continuing growth of the U.S. Army Space Command as it normalizes space support to the warfighter.
The first Defense Satellite Communications System Operations Center, now operated by 55th Signal Battalion, was built in 1981-82 at Fort Detrick. Over the last 23 years, Soldiers have pioneered the control techniques that are implemented hundreds of times each day by the battalion's Soldiers.
The 55th provides continuous, reliable, robust, worldwide communications support to U.S. warfighting forces, strategic military users, the U.S. intelligence community and the National Command Authority via the Defense Satellite Communications System.
The company is responsible for the daily command and control of the Defense Satellite Communications System using large, fixed earth terminal ground stations, transportable ground stations, and highly mobile, tactical ground stations.
Air Force Medical
Logistics Office
The mission of the Air Force Medical Logistics Office (AFMLO) is to provide support to the Air Force Medical Service by enabling the efficient and effective procurement, sustainment and delivery of medical supplies, services and equipment for peacetime and expeditionary operations. It is committed to providing Air Force medical logisticians leading edge training, tools and information systems to accomplish their mission. Through the proactive and responsive efforts of AFMLO's experienced and knowledgeable team, it strives to be the premier medical logistics activity in the Department of Defense. The organization is guided by the Air Force Core Values, "ntegrity First," & "Service Before Self," and "Excellence in All We Do."
AFMLO accomplishes its mission through organizational competencies that include medical logistics experience, a deep understanding of supply chain management, situational awareness, and project and life-cycle management. The organization develops policies and procedures, and provides support to base level medical logistics activities (at home station and deployed locations), major air commands and the Air Force Surgeon General's office in the areas of supply chain management, procurement, medical combat support, clinical engineering, financial management, and medical logistics automated information systems.
AFMLO integrates Joint Service and Air Force (Active and Air Reserve) medical logistics components to deploy and sustain warfighting capabilities through focused logistics, as defined by Joint Vision 2020. It effectively educates and supports stakeholders through the application of current and emerging business practices to all areas of medical logistics operations. AFMLO capitalizes on opportunity, champions and leads innovation, and prepares leaders for tomorrow.
AFMLO provides a global network of peacetime and wartime medical logistics capability and deployed medical units and major air commands worldwide. AFMLO maintains close liaison with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, the U.S. Naval Medical Logistics Command, the Defense Medical Standardization Board, and the Defense Logistics Agency.
AFMLO accomplishes its mission through organizational competencies that include medical logistics experience, understanding supply chain management, situational awareness, and project and life-cycle management. It develops policies and procedures, and provides support to base level medical logistics activities (at home station and deployed locations), major air commands and the Air Force Surgeon General's office in the areas of financial management, supply chain management, procurement, medical combat support, clinical engineering and medical logistics automated information systems.
AFMLO integrates Joint Service Active and Reserve Air Force Components to deploy and sustain warfighting capabilities through focused logistics as defined by Joint Vision 2020. It effectively educates and supports stakeholders through the application of current and emerging business practices to all areas of medical logistics operations. AFMLO capitalizes on opportunity, champions and leads innovation, and deploys leaders for tomorrow.
AFMLO provides a global network of peacetime and wartime medical logistics capability and deployed medical units and major air commands worldwide. AFMLO maintains close liaison with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, the U.S. Naval Medical Logistics Command, the Defense Medical Standardization Board, and the Defense Logistics Agency.
Air Force Medical Support Agency & Global Medical Support Trainingand Exercises
Air Force Medical Support Agency & Global Medical Support Training and Exercises (AFMSA/SGPX) reports to the Assistant Surgeon General, Healthcare Operations, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General. Its mission is to establish policy and guidance for global medical support training, exercises and personnel deployment planning requirements; orchestrate resources necessary to accomplish medical readiness training; perform as the active component subject matter experts for development and management of medical readiness information systems; and to act as the Air Force/Surgeon General's consultant to the modeling and simulation community to predict the resource demands of deployed personnel.
AFMSA/SGPX collaborates with numerous organizations and resources to meet their mission. These resources include the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, the acquisition community, major air commands, joint medical readiness planners, Air Force Surgeon General clinical consultants, and the Air Force modeling, simulation and analysis community.
AFMSA/SGPX also works closely with the DMSB to establish Joint Service policies governing casualty management and standardization of medical material assets.
Air Force Medical EvaluationSupport Activity
The Air Force Medical Evaluation Support Activity (AFMESA), a division of the Air Force Medical Support Agency, is dedicated to advancing Air Force health care through independent operational testing of medical technologies and information systems. AFMESA operates from a 14-acre compound in Area B that includes a fully functional ten-bed Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) hospital, a Small Shelter Patient Decontamination System (SSPDS), and an 87,000-square-foot gravel test pad. The AFMESA main desk can be reached at 301-619-8600.
Armed Forces MedicalIntelligence Center
The Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center is a field production activity of the Defense Intelligence Agency and the sole Department of Defense producer of medical intelligence. The center provides all-source intelligence on foreign infectious disease and environmental health risks, foreign military and civilian health care systems and infrastructures, and foreign biomedical development and life science technologies of military medical significance.
Assessments, forecasts, and databases are prepared on foreign military and civilian health care capabilities and trends, worldwide infectious disease occurrence, global environmental health risks, and militarily significant life science technologies.
These intelligence products provide direct support to U.S. military customers for operational planning, development of policy, doctrine and training priorities, and medical research and development. Medical intelligence is also critical to national-level customers, including the White House and Congress.
Chemical BiologicalMedical Systems-Joint Project Management Office
Chemical Biological Medical Systems (CBMS)-Joint Project Management Office, a subordinate command of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO_CBD), provides the overall development and production of Federal Drug Administration (FDA) licensed biological and chemical medical products to protect the warfighter in a biological/chemical environment. CBMS is responsible for two joint product management offices, the Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program (JVAP), and the Medical Identification and Treatment Systems (MITS). JVAP's mission is the development and production of FDA licensed vaccines and antisera to protect the warfighter in a biological warfare environment. MITS is responsible for the overall management, development and production of FDA licensed medical chemical/biological defense products, chemical/biological warfare diagnostic components and products to protect and treat the warfighter in a chemical/biological warfare environment.
Company B, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, MarineForces Reserve
One of only four light armored reconnaissance companies in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company B, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion was assigned to Fort Detrick in October 1987 and conducted its first annual training in Fort Benning, Ga., in July 1988.
Activated for Operation Desert Shield in November 1990, the company deployed to Southwest Asia in December 1990 and participated with United Nations Coalition forces in breaching Iraqi defenses to liberate Kuwait.
Bravo Company deployed to Iraq from February 2002 to September 2003 in support of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and Operation Iraqi Freedom. During their deployment, the unit participated in various missions in the combat phase of the operation. With the termination of the combat phase, the unit was involved with various security missions and the reconstruction efforts of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force throughout Iraq.
Bravo's Marines were recently mobilized in May 2006 for OIF and will be transitioning into a small craft company to be deployed as Damn Support Unit-3 along areas of the Euphrates River.
Tasked with conducting reconnaissance, security and, within capability, limited offensive and delaying operations that exploit mobility and firepower, the company supports the division in shaping the battlefield and developing the operational situation.
The Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) is an eight-wheeled, armored, amphibious vehicle mounting either a 25-millimeter cannon, anti-tank guided missile launcher or a mortar. There are also LAVs configured for logistics and communications recovery. The vehicles are road-safe and can travel at speeds of 62 miles per hour on roads and 6 mph in water, with a cruising range of approximately 400 miles. Possessing a Thermal Imaging Sight and fully stabilized turret for effective fire, day or night, stationary or moving, the LAV-25 carries a crew of seven, consisting of a driver, gunner, commander, and four scouts.
The active duty inspector-instructor staff is composed of one Marine officer, 13 enlisted Marines, and one Navy corpsman and is responsible for supervising, instructing, and assisting the Reserve company and providing technical support in administration, maintenance, and logistics.
The unit is located at the Pfc. Raymond Flair U.S. Army Reserve Center at 1120 Rocky Springs Road. Call 301-619-2704 for more information.
Defense Contract Management Agency & DCMA Baltimore
The Fort Detrick Defense Contract Management Agency is located in Building S-11 at 10 Porter Street, Suite 105. The mission of DCMA Baltimore is to provide acquisition and focused logistics support to America's armed forces in peace and war around-the-clock, around-the-world. The DCMA on Fort Detrick can be reached at 301-619-4754.
Joint Medical Logistics Functional Development Center
The Joint Medical Logistics Functional Development Center (JMLFDC) is located at Fort Detrick to ensure functional activity program management initiatives are evolved, coordinated and tightly integrated with the applicable activities of the Joint Readiness Clinical Advisory Board, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, Naval Medical Logistics Command and Air Force Medical Logistics Office.
The mission of JMLFDC is to integrate the medical logistics requirements of the three services into a single automated medical logistics system known as the Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support (DMLSS) Program. Employing a staff of expert medical logisticians and analysts, the JMLFDC has responsibilities for requirement integration, software design and development, testing, deployment, and sustainment support for the DMLSS automated information system. JMLFDC develops functional process improvements (with special focus on modeling and simulation), develops data and process models, maintains the medical logistics functional architecture, defines functional requirements for the DMLSS automated information system, develops implementation plans, identifies potential opportunities for updates to the functional economic analysis for the medical logistics service program managers, validates the DMLSS automated information system functional performance and ensures compliance with directives governing functional activity program management.
The products produced by the DMLSS automated information system provide state-of-the-art automated tools that enable the military health system to save money on the costs of pharmaceuticals, medical⁄surgical items, and equipment. Newly deployed DMLSS Electronic Commerce/Electronic Business tools have been combined with reengineering initiatives to streamline and optimize the business of medical logistics within the military health system.
Defense Medical Standardization Board
The Defense Medical Standardization Board is a Jointly staffed activity under guidance of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). The DMSB voting membership is composed of flag or general officers from each of the Military Services' Medical Departments, the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), the Joint Chiefs of Staff (J-4), the Defense Logistics Agency, and U.S. Joint Forces Command. The DMSB's Staff Director and support staff are located at Fort Detrick. The DMSB's major mission elements include: the joint selection and standardization of medical materiel with a special focus on operational medicine; manager of selective, clinically relevant, databases for materiel selection; life-cycle manager of all medical National Stock Numbers (NSN); clinical oversight of DoD's medical materiel complaint program; collaborative resource for the medical materiel testing community; clinical consultant resource for the DoD; and administrative manager for the DoD/Food and Drug Administration Shelf-Life Extension Program (DoD/FDA SLEP). The DMSB holds summits and clinical panels to jointly develop medical materiel recommendations that are clinically driven, evidence based, and are actionable by the Services.
Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4)
Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) develops, fields and supports a medical information management system for Army tactical medical forces, enabling a comprehensive, life-long electronic medical record for all service members, and enhancing medical situational awareness for operational commanders. By accomplishing this mission, the MC4 Product Management Office (PMO) will have provided the Army's solution to Presidential and Congressional objectives, set-forth by Title 10 in 1997, which called for a medical tracking system for all deployed Service members.
MC4 is a ruggedized system of systems containing medical software packages sent into theater to support deployed medical forces. Comprised of joint software (Theater Medical Information Program), and commercial-off-the-shelf and government-off-the-shelf products, MC4 provides the tools needed to record and transfer data from the foxhole to brick-and-mortar facilities worldwide. As a result, MC4 creates a bridge between the tactical and sustaining base IM'IT healthcaresystems, connecting the battlefield to the ContinentalUnited States.
Deployed medical forces use the MC4 system to gain quick, accurate access to patient histories and forward casualty resuscitation information. The system also provides units with automated tools facilitating patient tracking, medical reporting and medical logistical support. Meanwhile, combatant commanders worldwide use the MC4 system to access medical surveillance information, resulting in enhanced medical situational awareness.
Most importantly, MC4 is helping deployed Soldiers. By equipping deployed medical units with automated resources, MC4 helps ensure Soldiers have a secure, accessible, life-long electronic medical record , which results in peace of mind for the Soldier and better-informed healthcare providers. For the first time in history, relevant medical data flows vertically throughout levels of healthcare and to joint medical databases, while simultaneously providing data horizontally into the Army Battle Command, Combat Service Support and Communications architecture.
MC4 in Action
MC4 was first deployed for contingency operations in 2003 and has since fielded more than 12,000 systems to deployed medical units throughout Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Afghanistan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Additionally, MC4 has trained approximately 11,500 users and continues to provide 24-7 global support via its help desk, three regional support centers and technical support teams through Southwest Asia.
Since 2003, MC4 has facilitated the transfer of more than 270,000 patient encounters from the battlefield to the U.S. In 2005, MC4 enabled the 86th Combat Support Hospital to become the first deployed hospital in the history of U.S. warfare to electronically capture service members' healthcare treatments by using a joint medical software system. The 14th Combat Support Hospital also made history by using MC4 in response to Joint Task Force Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans and then introducing electronic medical recording capabilities in Afghanistan during their Operation Enduring Freedom mission.
These efforts earned the MC4 PMO the 2005 Army Medical Department and 2005 Military Health System IM'IT Team of the Year awards, as well as the Top 20 Federal IM'IT Program award from the American Council for Technology.
Into the Future
The Army recognizes that the MC4 system is an evolving capability required to support current and emerging medical information technologies needed by deployed medical forces. That is why MC4 has become a complementary system to the Future Combat System and the Future Force Warrior System. By doing so, MC4 provides an interface to these systems that enables automated assessment and remote monitoring capabilities for deployed medical forces.
Headquartered at Fort Detrick, Md., MC4 is under the oversight of the Army Program Executive Office, Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS) at Fort Belvoir, Va.
For more information on MC4, visit www.mc4.army.mil, or subscribe to www.mc4.army.mil/mc4newsletter.
National Cancer Institute at Frederick
The National Cancer Institute's comprehensive program of basic, translational and clinical research is making unprecedented progress in understanding the molecular basis of cancer and developing novel strategies for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases.
The National Cancer Institute at Frederick (NCI-Frederick), a government-owned, contractor-operated facility plays a vital role in NCI's accomplishments by housing research programs of the NCI Center for Cancer Research and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (Developmental Therapeutics Program). The four NCI-Frederick contractors conduct basic and applied research and provide research support programs in animal production, as well as computer and library services.
NCI-Frederick is an internationally recognized institution for interdisciplinary research into cancer causes, biology, diagnosis, and treatment. NCI-Frederick also provides support services and conducts studies to develop AIDS vaccines and drugs for treatment of HIV/AIDS.
NCI-Frederick owns approximately 70 acres on Fort Detrick. More than 100 structures for administration, laboratory, and research support house approximately 2,400 contract and government employees.
Research at NCI-Frederick includes:
-Basic research into the fundamental biologic nature of cancer, cancer genetics, how tumors form, progress, and metastasize, and how they can be prevented and treated.
-Investigation of the role that unique viral agents, their components or products may play in human cancer- Basic and translational research in retro virology, including the study of viral populations and dynamics, mechanisms of genetic variation, drug resistance and development of new strategies for combating HIV/AIDS.
-Studies on the biology of cancer relating to potential for immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and pharmacogenetic therapy, Development, evaluation and production of natural products as chemotherapies for human cancer and HIV/AIDS.
-Development and evaluation of rapid, sensitive tests to screen for, detect, and monitor cancer and AIDS.
-Mechanism-of-action studies of environmental chemicals That are known or suspected carcinogens;
-Programs in environmental protection to establish effective standards of chemical and biological safety.
-Applied research for anti-tumor and antiviral drug design, discovery, development, and production.
-Application of computational and modeling methods and supercomputing technology to understand the structure and function of biological molecules.
-Research on mammalian genome organization and structure.
-Basic research into signaling pathways that control cellular growth, differentiation, gene expression, and embryonic development.
-Analysis of patients samples in support of Phase I and II clinical studies.
-Expansion and maintenance of a repository of clinical samples for cancer epidemiology studies.
-Basic studies using macromolecular crystallography to gain insights into structure, assembly, and function of bio molecules.
Naval Medical Logistics Command
The Naval Medical Logistics Command (NMLC) is an echelon four command under the Navy Medicine Support Command (NMSC), Jacksonville, FL. NMLC assumed the naval medical logistics functions from the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) on April 15, 1997. Effective October 1, 1999, the Fleet Hospital Program Office (PML-500) located at Fort Detrick and the Fleet Hospital Support Office (FHSO) located at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Cheatham Annex, Williamsburg, VA, were realigned under NMLC from Naval Supply Systems Command. The FHSO in Williamsburg, Va., recently changed its name to Navy Expeditionary Medical Support Command to reflect its current mission. NMLC has two additional activities under its command which are the Naval Opthalmic Support and Training Activity located at Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown, VA and the NMLC Pirmasens Germany Detachment.
As the Medical Logistics Headquarters for the U.S. Navy, NMLC's mission is to fulfill requirements and facilitate processes to meet the medical materiel and service needs of the shore establishments and Operational Forces. We provide our customers medical logistics support in the form of: product and service acquisition, health care contracting, equipment support, allowance configuration, business systems, legal assistance, logistics planning, policy, guidance and training.
The Fleet Hospital Program provides comprehensive medical support to the fleet and Fleet Marine Forces engaged in combat operations. Shore-based fleet hospitals complement and expand the afloat medical capabilities of the fleet and play a critical role in the Navy's doctrinal concept of overseastheater support. They deliver definitive health care--surgicalor other acute care as necessary--and stabilize, treat, andrehabilitate patients in-theater.
The history of the NMLC began in 1850 with the establishment of the Naval Medical Supply Depot, Brooklyn, NY. The depot at that time produced medical supplies for the Medical Department of the Navy under the direction of Surgeon Benjamin F. Bache, U.S. Navy. On July 1, 1952, the U.S. Naval Medical Supply Depot was transferred to the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts and the Field Branch, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery was established. The Field Branch remained in Brooklyn until July 1965 when it moved to Philadelphia, PA. Organizational changes within the Navy and BUMED led to the disestablishment of the Field Branch and the establishment of the Naval Medical Materiel Support Command as a Navy shore activity in Philadelphia on December 1, 1973. In August 1985, the Naval Medical Materiel Support Command Detachment was formed and moved to Fort Detrick. The remaining members of the command moved to Fort Detrick in 1986. On June 1, 1990, the name of the command changed to the Naval Medical Logistics Command to reflect its broader logistics mission.
In November 2003, NMLC held its 150th birthday celebration showcasing its years of achievement and support to the United States Navy.
Secret Service
The U.S. Secret Service office at Fort Detrick is located at 1500 Porter Street and can be contacted at 301-293-6434. This office operates as liaison with the law enforcement community in Western Maryland.
Technology Applications Office
The Technology Applications Office (TAO) is a functionally integrated, task force organization designed to provide centralized, life-cycle management, engineering, fielding, and operation of information management programs supporting Headquarters, Department of the Army-approved missions. TAO also provides operational support in identifying, developing, testing, and evaluating emerging technologies for interoperability and integration into information management equipment and systems.
Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center
The Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), an element of the Headquarters U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, is an organization composed of DOD military and civilian personnel, contractors, and staff from private industry and academia.
Telemedicine reflects a convergence of technological advances in a number of fields, including medicine, telecommunications, computer engineering, informatics, artificial intelligence, robotics, materials science, and perceptual psychology.
TATRC manages a variety of medical projects in many areas of telemedicine, such as tele-radiology, medical informatics, tele-surgical robotics and mentoring, and tele-dentistry. Responsibility for aggressive prototyping and demonstration of new technologies also rests with TATRC. Through partnerships with other government agencies and industry, TATRC carries out ongoing market surveillance with an eye toward leveraging investigative technologies in health care.
The goals of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command Telemedicine Program are to provide technologies needed to incorporate health awareness into the battlespace awareness, provide force protection, reduce time to critical intervention for injured personnel, improve the skills and efficiency of care providers, and improve the quality of emergency care throughout the battlespace.
Advances in information and telecommunication technologies can be exploited to achieve a military advantage through their application in medicine. TATRC always strives to bring this advantage to America's fighting forces. For more information on TATRC and its initiatives visit the Web site: www.tatrc.org.
U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research
The U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research (USACEHR) conducts research to protect U.S. forces from hazardous environmental contaminants that may be present in a theater of operations because of toxic waste dumping, damaged infrastructure, or direct attacks on industrial sites. The USACEHR is also a leader in the development of alternative animal models and sentinel species for evaluating toxic hazards in water and air.
Because our nation supports a large research and development base in the environmental sciences and chemical/biological defense, USACEHR is able to leverage military environmental health requirements against new information and innovative products being developed in other laboratories and institutions. USACEHR scientists collaborate with a variety of organizations, including other U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command research laboratories, the Navy and the Air Force, Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, municipalities, universities and industrial partners. Such collaboration promotes synergy and ensures that the staff maintains a broad awareness of other research efforts and avoids duplication of efforts.
Currently, the USACEHR's intramural research is divided into two categories. The first category is the development of an Environmental Sentinel Biomonitor (ESBs), which involves the placement of tissue cells into the environment (in situ) and connecting them to electronic systems that transmit real-time data for use in risk assessment, management, and/or mitigation. The USACEHR has historically led this effort with technologies such as its automated fish ventilatory system, which was commercialized in 2004. This aquatic biomonitor has been used to monitor the effluents of treated munitions for years, for toxic algal blooms in local bodies of water, and more recently to monitor the influent of drinking water supplies. An ongoing research effort is aimed at detecting new biological responses of toxicological significance and the development of additional ESBs that are more easily deployable to the field.
The second category of intramural research involves the new disciplines of genomics and proteomics for the purposes of developing new toxicity testing methods (toxicogenomics) and the identification of biomarkers of exposure, effect, and susceptibility. Alternative (nonmammalian) species provide many advantages in genomic and proteomic research, including shorter experimental times and reduced costs, simpler models for study, and gene functions that are also highly conserved in mammals. Most of the nonmammalian species used by the USACEHR are genome-sequenced models used in studying gene functions. This provides the additional advantage of resource availability in bioinformatic databases and microarray technologies for analyzing gene expression on a massive scale. The conservation of gene function across species permits the identification of responses to toxic exposures that can be verified in higher vertebrates, including mice and humans.
U.S. Army Garrison
The Headquarters, U.S. Army Garrison is the landlord of the installation and provides critical base operations support to Department of Defense and non-Department of Defense tenant organizations. Through its special and personal staff offices, the garrison provides public affairs support, legal advice, Chaplain services, Equal Opportunity and Equal Employment programs, internal review and auditing, inspector general services and military personnel. Many other aspects of base operations support are provided through several directorates.
The Directorate of Information Management provides command, control, communications, and computer information management support to the installation. It is charged with support of the network infrastructure, telephone services, electronic mail, internet availability, helpdesk operations, server hosting and consolidation services, and information assurance. The Directorate also supports records management and visual/audio/graphics services for the installation. Tenant IM/IT projects are supported by the Directorate's certified Army Acquisition Workforce. Services are negotiated on a reimbursable basis.
The Directorate of Community Support Programs is responsible for all the "well-being" programs and is designed to enhance moral and promote readiness and ensure the safety of personnel, property, facilities and environment. DCS divisions include business operations, military personnel, housing, family readiness, Army Substance Abuse Program and Detrick Center for Training and Education Excellence.

The Directorate of Installation Services was formed in 1995 as a result of Vice President Gore';s National Performance Review to include consolidation of operations to adopt better business practices. DIS is a consolidation of the workforce and expertise in public works and logistics. DIS is the largest customer service oriented directorate in the Garrison at Fort Detrick, with approximately 170 employees dedicated to providing and maintaining Fort Detrick with the highest level of engineering, maintenance, utilities, transportation, mail, freight, hazardous materials, government vehicle and supply management affordable in an era when the government’s resources and budget are being reduced.
Installation Services maintains 1,142 acres, and various administrative buildings, research laboratories, communication facilities and morale welfare facilities. Several services are provided by DIS to those who live and work at Fort Detrick.
The Security, Plans, and Operations Office provides for public safety through security and intelligence monitoring, anti-terrorism and force protection analysis, and contingency plans development for Fort Detrick.
The Directorate of Emergency Services protects people and property. Trained firefighters and police officers are available for response 24-hours-a-day and seven-days-a-week. Other functions performed from 1500 and 1504 Porter Street include law enforcement, traffic and visitor control, prevention and investigation of crimes, physical security, and vehicle, pet, bicycle, and weapon registration. A contract guard force headquartered in the PMO mans Fort Detrick's gates. The Fort Detrick DES Fire and Emergency Services Division proudly protect the approximately 7,800 people living in a two-square-mile area. The department is a Federal department whose members are on a paid status. The DES F/ES division provides a variety of services to its military and civilian customers.
Serving laboratories, administrative and office occupancies, communications facilities, barracks and family housing areas with fire protection, crash fire and rescue, emergency medical services, confined space rescue and hazardous materials incident mitigation are undertaken from the department's headquarters station. Public fire education and a proactive facility inspection campaign are administered by the AThe Safety, Environment and Integrated Planning Office manage the civilian resource conservation program, radiation program, hazardous materials management, natural A communications-electronic engineering, installation, test and evaluation, and software development and maintenance for Defense Communication System (Army) and communications systems.
Later reorganizations saw other name changes, such as USACEEIA-CONUS (continental United States), U.S. Army Electronic Systems Engineering Installation Activity, and USAISEC-CONUS; and relocation to Fort Ritchie, Md. In October 1996, USAISEC, along with USAISEC-CONUS, were realigned under CECOM to continue its unique mission as the only Army Command in the CONUS performing information systems engineering, installation, testing, construction rehabilitation and removal of information systems and facilities.
The critical brigade level command supported CONUS-wide major commands, combat and strategic command, control, communications, computer systems for unified and specified commands and deployable forces in support of warfighting commanders in chief. The command served as the critical link in fulfilling the Army's Information Mission Area initiatives in nearly 152 far-flung CONUS installations as well as Department of Defense agencies, the White House, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Defense Information Systems Agency, National Security Agency, and the Department of the Army staff.
In October 1997, USAISEC-CONUS reorganized and was designated USAISEC-Fort Ritchie Engineering Office, becoming a directorate of the USAISEC. The move to Fort Detrick in September 1998 once again changed their designation, to USAISEC-Fort Detrick Engineering Directorate.
The U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command - Fort Detrick Engineering Directorate staff continues its unique mission as the provider of engineering, installation and testing of information systems and facilities throughout the Department of the Army as well as Defense Department agencies.
U.S. Army
Medical Materiel Agency
The U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency (USAMMA) is a unique, multifaceted organization globally managing strategic medical logistics contingency programs; medically equipping the active component, Army Reserve, and National Guard forces; and providing technical solutions at the medical treatment facilities.
A key pillar within the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, USAMMA's mission is to provide medical materiel lifecycle management and logistics solutions for the warfighter across the full spectrum of healthcare missions worldwide. True to this mission, the agency is continually improving its business practices and technology capabilities based on its vision that "Every healthcare provider has the required equipment and supplies to deliver optimal healthcare to America's Warfighters."
Through its four-core competencies USAMMA distinctly contributes to the Army Medical Department's (AMEDD) role in the Global War on Terrorism and as part of Army Transformation. USAMMA's core competencies are: (1) materiel acquisition and lifecycle management, (2) force projection and force sustainment, (3) medical logistics information and knowledge management, and (4) enterprise/organizational excellence.
As part of its role in materiel acquisition, USAMMA participates in and conducts technology watch, materiel development, acquisition logistics, and materiel distribution. Moreover, USAMMA manages medical sets, kits and outfits; and conducts medical maintenance management, engineering and operations. Fundamental to this role are the materiel assessment, procurement, fielding, and follow-on support for improved or new medical technologies at the field medical organizations and medical treatment facilities.
In the realm of force protection and force sustainment execution, USAMMA centrally manages several Army and Surgeon General contingency programs. These programs include the acquisition, storage, distribution, and transfer of pre-positioned stocks located ashore and afloat, as well as medical chemical defense packages and short shelf life pharmaceuticals and other materiel. Integral to this support are partnerships with defense organizations and industry. Critical to this core competency is USAMMA's deployable medical logistics support teams.
Further, USAMMA is constantly exploring and employing innovative methods to meld automated information technologies with logistics and transportation best business practices. Such focused logistics initiatives provide more efficient and accurate ways to deliver and manage precision packages and biomedical maintenance capabilities.
In the medical logistics information and knowledge arena, USAMMA performs functions such as unit assembly database management, medical cataloging, medical materiel quality control message management, automated information system management, and logistics evaluation and analysis. These functions result in numerous products designed to promote knowledge sharing and provide tools and techniques that enhance efficiency and economy. In addition, the agency produces a variety of supply and maintenance publications, as well as, information papers and documents used by stakeholders and customers alike.
The agency's last core competency centers on the organization, or business enterprise, as a whole. This focus includes continually developing staff, incorporating new technologies, implementing innovative approaches, and measuring performance and business results. USAMMA's long-range approach for adopting and improving business practices and transforming the organization's structure to support the AMEDD and warfighter is called the URL, or USAMMA's Revolution in Logistics. The URL, both a business philosophy and methodology for achieving organizational excellence and long-term success, is the cornerstone of USAMMA's efforts to balance today's realities with tomorrow's expectations.
Notable achievements by USAMMA in this area of enterprise/organizational excellence include its new role as the Army medical set assembly manager rapid hand-off of Army Pre-positioned Stocks during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Maintenance Divisions recognition as ISO 9001-2000 quality management compliant and winner of 2003 The Surgeon General's Excalibur Award in the Active Component, non-medical treatment facility category.
Finally, USAMMA's world-class reputation is the direct result of the outstanding leadership, work ethic, and selfless devotion of its highly talented military, civilian, and contractor staff. Essential to USAMMA's success now and into the future, this dedicated and professional staff work and live in locations around the world including Fort Detrick, MD; Tobyhanna, PA; Tracy, CA; Ogden, UT; Charleston, SC.; Germany; Korea; and Southwest Asia.
U. S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA)
The USAMMDA mission is to protect and preserve the lives of America's sons and daughters by developing new drugs, vaccines and medical devices that enhance readiness, ensure the provision of the highest quality medical care to the Department of Defense (DoD), and maximize the survival rate for medical casualties on the battlefield. USAMMDA accomplishes its mission by exercising three core capabilities: Program Management for the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) advanced development programs, Regulatory Affairs support and clinical monitoring of all protocols conducted using Investigational New Drugs (INDs), and Executive Agent for management of Force Health Protection (FHP) INDs.
Program Management: Our program managers guide the advanced development of drugs, vaccines, and medical devices for the U.S. Army Medical Department, other U.S. Services, the Joint Staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Special Forces community. This process takes promising technology from DoD, academic, and industrial laboratories and manages its development, including all testing required for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval or licensing, and all testing, logistics support planning and programmatic documentation necessary for procurement and fielding of a finished product to the Soldier. Critical readiness issues are addressed and identified in user requirement documents to meet cost, schedule, and performance objectives. Use is made of the most current acquisition procedures, including tailored acquisition strategies, commercial off-the-shelf procurement, rapid prototyping, and a variety of cooperative and contractual arrangements with academia and industry. The USAMMDA staff's mix of technical and scientific expertise, acquisition training and experience, and knowledge of quality assurance and regulatory affairs is an asset that is unique within the DoD. Examples of ongoing medical device efforts include improved ground casualty evacuation platforms, field hospital equipment, a state-of-the-art expandable, portable medical surgical suite, haemostatic bandages for hemorrhage control, oxygen generation systems, and new trauma management systems. Pharmaceutical products include several drugs and vaccines that minimize or prevent the capability of infectious agents (malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, adenovirus) to degrade military unit operational effectiveness.
Regulatory Affairs: The Division of Regulatory Affairs (DRA) objective is to establish/define, support and monitor the regulatory strategies that facilitate the development of regulated products for our Fighting Forces. These products are sponsored by the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG), Department of the Army and regulated by the FDA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In previous years, this function was divided among various organizations across the command. In order to bring these fragmented responsibilities together, USAMMDA was assigned the regulatory affairs mission for USAMRMC. The four branches of RA are Clinical Trial Monitoring, Applied Regulated Systems Validation, Communication and Compliance, and Sponsors and Product Liaison.
Clinical Trial Monitoring branch staff assures adequate protection of the rights of human subjects and their safety when they participate in clinical investigations. The staff also reviews clinical study data for quality and integrity.
The Applied Regulated Systems and Validation branch provides regulatory compliance support to MRMC components on conducting regulated research activities. This branch can validate laboratory equipment and systems, develop protocols and methods for analytical validation and prepare submissions to the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
The Communication and Compliance branch supports USAMRMC regulated product development through the development and implementation of business practices and processes to ensure compliance with FDA and other regulatory requirements in the areas of FDA communications, maintenance of regulatory documentation pertaining to regulated product development, and training of personnel participating in regulated activities.
The Sponsor and Product Liaison branch provides regulatory advice to USAMRMC Integrated Product Teams, regulatory review of clinical protocols, responds to all FDA and EPA inquiries and supports product managers and clinical investigators working with regulated products. This branch is also responsible for writing or reviewing documentation required by the FDA or EPA to support approval of the products.
The DRA also provides regulatory support to the Chemical Biological Medical Systems (CBMS) and the Navy Medical Research Center.
Force Health Protection-Investigational New Drug (FHP-IND): The USAMMDA executes DoD policy pertaining to the preventive or therapeutic use of investigational drugs or biological products during military operations in those situations where no appropriate FDA approved product is available. This Executive Agency is the DoD’s single source for application of investigational new drug products for Force Health Protection; and responsible for managing all aspects of FHP INDs to ensure compliance with mandatory FDA regulatory directives/guidance.
Matrix Support: USAMMDA provides matrixed support, in the form of both personnel and administrative assistance, to the following organizations and agencies: Headquarters, USAMRMC; Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, USAMRMC; Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care Program Management Office; and the CBMS Project Management Office.
U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).
USAMRAA is the acquisition arm of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, providing business solutions to support its research, materiel development, information management & technology missions. USAMRAA provides both pre- and post-award total lifecycle contracting and assistance agreement (grants and cooperative agreements) services. USAMRAA's customers include the worldwide network of laboratories, program managers, materiel managers, the Fort Detrick U.S. Army Garrison, military and civilian tenant activities, and projects sponsored by The U.S. Army Surgeon General. USAMRAA provides business and acquisition services to Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, The Department of Homeland Security, the TRICARE Management Activity and other customers on a reimbursable basis through interservice support agreements.
Through its network of suppliers and institutions, USAMRAA acquires for its customers the products necessary to ensure the health and well-being of the U.S. warfighter, U.S. allies and the greater community.
USAMRAA is a strong supporter of competition in government contracting and of small businesses. It awards more than 90 percent of its contracts and assistance agreements competitively, and approximately 65 percent of actions go to small and small-disadvantaged businesses.
Contracting officers, serving as customer account representatives, and contract specialists partner closely with project managers, technical representatives, and leaders in business and academia. These teaming relationships ensure projects remain focused and best value business decisions are made in accordance with desired outcomes and applicable laws and regulations.
As an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001-2000 certified enterprise, USAMRAA offers its diverse customer base the highest quality acquisition products and services through continual monitoring and testing of its processes and management systems. USAMRAA continues to be a nationally recognized leader in delivering the highest quality acquisition products in a global marketplace.
U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Medical Command responsible for lifecycle management of medical materiel, from basic laboratory research through advanced development, prototyping, procurement, delivery to units, maintenance and disposal. The USAMRMC is responsible for planning, programming and budgeting for construction of Army medical facilities and for corporate information management and information technology requirements of the Army Medical Department.
Headquartered at Fort Detrick, Md., the USAMRMC operates six medical research laboratories and institutes in the United States. These laboratories make up the core science and technology capability of the command. They are centers of excellence in specific areas of biomedical research, staffed by highly qualified military and civilian scientists and support personnel. The command's in-house science and technology capabilities are enhanced by a large extramural contract research program and numerous cooperative research and development agreements with leading research and development organizations in the civilian sector.
The command also operates eight subordinate units exclusively focused on medical materiel development, contracting, medical logistics management, health facility planning, and information management and technology. Approximately 5,400 military, civilian and contractor personnel are assigned to the headquarters and 14 subordinate units. Officers, enlisted service members, and civilians provide a wide variety of medical, scientific, and technical expertise. Many of these personnel are among the most respected and knowledgeable specialists in their fields.
In addition to eight elements at Fort Detrick, USAMRMC operates units at the Forest Glen Annex of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Silver Spring, Md.; Alexandria, Va.; Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.; Natick, Mass.; Fort Rucker, Ala.; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and Pirmasens, Germany. The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, one of USAMRMC's laboratories, operates overseas research units in Germany, Kenya, and Thailand.
The USAMRMC is the Department of Defense executive agent for medical chemical-and-biological defense research programs and combat maxillofacial surgery. It is also Defense Department lead agent for infectious disease research and military nutrition. Finally, it acts as the Department of Defense's manager of congressionally mandated, peer-reviewed research programs in breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, neurofibromatosis and military women's health.
U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) conducts basic and applied research on biological threats resulting in medical solutions to protect the warfighter. USAMRIID is the lead medical research laboratory for the U.S. Biological Defense Research Program, and is the only laboratory in the Department of Defense (DoD) equipped to safely study highly hazardous infectious agents requiring maximum containment at Biosafety Level 4.
Institute scientists focus on the identification and initial development of medical countermeasures to protect military personnel against biological attack. These products include candidate vaccines and drugs, diagnostic capabilities, and medical management procedures to minimize the effects of disease, preserve fighting strength, and maximize return to duty.
If exposure and illness do occur, rapid diagnosis is essential for proper treatment and medical management. USAMRIID scientists & often in collaboration with industry partners & develop new laboratory and field diagnostic methods for disease agents that pose a threat to U.S. armed forces.
Information is another key product of USAMRIID research. The Institute has a cadre of physicians who understand the unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of biological agents used in battlefield or terrorist situations. Over the past decade, USAMRIID has taken the lead in training military and civilian healthcare providers to recognize and treat biological casualties.
USAMRIID's laboratory facilities are unique and include 50,000 square feet of Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) containment laboratory space and 10,000 square feet of Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) maximum containment laboratory space. The Institute has an outstanding safety record and consistently meets or exceeds regulatory requirements for safety and ethics in biomedical research.
USAMRIID maintains several rapid response teams that can deploy on short notice upon request. Some teams provide training to personnel charged with establishing diagnostic laboratories in theaters of combat operations. Other teams specialize in rapid response to investigate disease outbreaks anywhere in the world, and can evacuate patients under BSL-4 isolation.
The Institute's military and civilian staff of 750 includes microbiologists, physicians, veterinarians, pathologists, chemists, molecular biologists, virologists, and pharmacologists, and the technical and administrative staff necessary to support the research. Over one-third of the USAMRIID staff has advanced degrees.
USAMRIID scientists are internationally recognized experts in their respective fields and are frequently sought to share that expertise. They publish their research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals, present at national and international scientific meetings, hold faculty positions in their fields of study, and serve on numerous scientific committees and review boards.
In addition, USAMRIID collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, the Department of Energy, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, industry partners, and academic centers of excellence worldwide.
U.S. Army Security Force
The U.S. Army Security Force (USASF) Headquarters, U.S. Army Garrison, Raven Rock Mountain Complex, is located at 1540A Porter Street.
The USASF comprises four line platoons, a headquarters section and a security section. In addition to its conventional military police force, the USASF fields a volunteer, command-certified Special Reaction Team and Hostage Negotiation Team.
The USASF conducts physical security, access and egress control and law enforcement for the Raven Rock Mountain Complex in support of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The USASF ensures unhindered continuity of operations and complete access to critical command and control facilities through aggressive static, mounted, and dismounted security operations. The USASF maintains constant readiness to deploy augmentation, tactical, and specialized law enforcement response forces during elevated threat conditions, contingency operations and critical incidents.