Original Date: 03/08/1999
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

The Applied Research Laboratory at The Pennsylvania State University (ARL Penn State) was established in 1945 to advance the U.S. Navy’s technology base through research and development. Today, the ARL Penn State serves as a center of research excellence in undersea science and technology. To fulfill this mission, the Laboratory conducts basic and applied research, exploratory activities, and advanced development in support of the Navy’s undersea technology base and related mission areas; contributes to the educational objectives, research goals, and scholarly reputation of the University; and promotes the transfer of advanced technology, technology extension, and training to the government and industrial sectors.

Located in the central Pennsylvania community of State College (affectionately known as Happy Valley), this Navy- sponsored facility is supported by more than 1000 faculty, staff, and students. The ARL Penn State devotes approximately 200,000 square feet to on-site engineering and testing facilities, and maintains several remote test sites and offices in Keyport, Washington; Warminister, Pennsylvania; Honnolulu, Hawaii; Key West, Florida; and Washington, D.C. Total funding for the facility was $70 million in 1998. The ARL Penn State represents one of four Navy academic research centers in the country, and is the largest interdisciplinary center at Penn State. Among the best practices documented were the ARL Penn State’s overspray capture system; design infrastructure; laser induced breakdown spectroscopy; problem solving focus; laser-liquid-solid interaction technique; and technology transfer and deployment.

In accordance with the Department of Defense and congressional mandates, the ARL Penn State’s charter promotes technology transfer for economic competitiveness. The Laboratory shares its expertise, capabilities, and research with the Navy through its commands, laboratories, and contractors as well as with other federal agencies, state and regional governments, and industry. Transferring technologies from federally-funded research and development to the Nation’s commercial sector augments the Navy’s and industry’s research and development efforts; adds value to existing and emerging technologies; and enhances the ARL Penn State’s research and academic efforts.

By solving challenges for the Navy, the ARL Penn State achieves innovation and practicality in technology-based research. Through its relationship with Penn State, the Laboratory accesses a vast array of multidisciplinary resources and expertise. Together, these avenues foster a collaborative effort that matches real-world problems with advanced research capabilities. This arrangement also proves to be a competitive strength to the ARL Penn State in winning project awards and in attracting support/resources for its many successful programs. The BMP survey team considers the following practices to be among the best in industry and government.

TABLE OF ACRONYMS:
The following acronyms were used in this report:

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.