Mr. Chairman:
Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify regarding the Department of Defense basic scientific research program and the Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research or “DEPSCoR.”
My name is Jim Hoehn, Senior Associate at the EPSCOR/IDeA Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that promotes the importance of strong science and technology research infrastructure, and works to improve the research competitiveness of states that have historically received less federal research funding. Previously, I spent 29 years at the National Science Foundation, including a 5-year stint as the Office Head of NSF’s ESPCoR Program and as Chairman of the EPSCoR Interagency Coordinating Committee.
I speak today on behalf of the Coalition of 24 EPSCoR States in support of both the Department of Defense science and engineering research program and an important component of that program, DEPSCoR. Mr. Chairman we regret that some DEPSCoR researchers from Alaska could not be here due to the change in date of the hearing.
Mr. Chairman and Senator Inouye, thank you for your leadership and support, which led to an increase in DEPSCoR funding in FY 2005. This increase was a good first step in bringing funding up to a level that will fully enable DEPSCoR researchers to offer quality research directly related to the mission of the Department of Defense.
The Coalition of EPSCoR States strongly supports the Department’s budget request for basic research. DEPSCoR is a small, but significant, part of this larger, multi-faceted DoD research program. The Coalition recommends that Congress appropriate $25 million to the Department of Defense budget for the DEPSCoR Program in FY 2006.
DEPSCoR was initially authorized in the 1995 National Defense Authorization Act and was created to help build national infrastructure for research and education by funding research activities in science and engineering fields that are important to national defense. DEPSCoR’s objectives are:
(1) To enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education in DEPSCoR States to develop, plan, and execute science and engineering research that is competitive under the merit review systems used for awarding federal research assistance; and
(2) To increase the probability of long-term growth in the competitively awarded financial assistance that DEPSCoR universities receive for research.
I would now like to highlight a few “DEPSCoR-funded” success stories of research projects that have and are, presently, contributing to our National defense interests.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Institute of Artic Biology is conducting research on the central nervous system with potential applications for reducing the severity of combat casualties by extending the window of opportunity for transport to medical facilities.
The University of Hawaii at Manoa has developed tropical cyclone forecasts for the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, which is DoD’s operational center for tropical cyclone forecasting in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
At Montana State University, research is being conducted to protect pilots and sensors from attack from laser weaponry. This project is of particular interest for protecting pilots using Night Vision Goggles, for laser range finders and target designators.
University of Nevada researchers are working on a project to mitigate the noise in the drive systems of ships and submarines. The mitigation of noise and the accompanying vibration will significantly improve stealth performance of naval vessels.
North Dakota State University is conducting research aimed at lengthening the life of ship structures. This research will lead to significant savings in military spending on marine fuel, maintenance and replacement of ships.
Again, these are only a few of the many DEPSCoR-funded research initiatives that add to our national body of knowledge on varying National security issues.
DEPSCoR awards are provided to mission-oriented individual academic investigators to conduct research that has practical military applications. However, the program as it is currently implemented has not taken into account the significant benefits that can be derived from pooling individual investigators efforts into “centers” of research that meet the ever-increasing challenges and needs of the Department of Defense and the Services.
The DEPSCoR states propose restructuring the program into two components. The first component would retain the current structure whereby the single investigators are invited to compete for research awards in areas identified by the Department and the Services. The second and new component would award funding to mission-oriented “centers.” These centers of defense excellence would be interdisciplinary areas and would build defense research capacity.
To achieve important defense research objectives of both the components of the program, the DEPSCoR states suggest that the program be funded at $25 million for FY 2006 with $10 million obligated to the individual investigator awards and $15 million for the mission-oriented centers initiative. This twin approach to funding will enhance the Department’s ability to tap into the best ideas that the DEPSCoR states have to offer in support of the Nation’s security needs.
In conclusion, DEPSCoR is a wise and worthwhile investment of scarce public resources, and will continue to contribute research that supports national defense needs. Thank you for your consideration of this request.