APL’s National Security Technology Department (NSTD) supports a variety of missions and programs that are making critical contributions to the Nation’s vital security interests.  The following paragraphs provide brief descriptions of the primary mission areas supported by NSTD.  Details on specific programs and thrust areas within each of the mission areas can be found by clicking the corresponding hyperlinks. NSTD has a long history in and continues to make important contributions to the area of Undersea Warfare (USW).  NSTD provides broad technical support to all aspects of the Navy’s Undersea Enterprise and contributes to sponsors involved in all components of undersea warfare: submarine, surface, air, special operations forces (SOF), and surveillance systems.   USW programs focus on ensuring the ability of the Navy to counter all undersea threats, providing support to the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), and ensuring the security and survivability of U.S. submarines.  NSTD staff that support USW have extensive experience and skills in the areas of submarine and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sensor systems, tactics and operations; hydroacoustics; submarine acoustic and non-acoustic signature phenomenologies; signal and information processing; C2 and human-systems engineering; detection/classification/tracking algorithm development and testing; mine warfare; sensor development; ocean engineering; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); autonomous systems; and performance modeling and simulation.  Additionally, NSTD maintains a robust test and evaluation capability, and frequently plans and conducts complex at-sea tests to prove out concepts or to evaluate prototype technologies.   USW contributions to the GWOT include such areas as port and waterside protection, and maritime ISR.

Through expertise in sensor technologies and systems engineering, NSTD is developing the means to defend the U.S. homeland, its military forces and allies. Homeland Protection programs focus on countering the asymmetric threats of unrestricted warfare and the potentially catastrophic terrorist-type attacks employing chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological, and explosive weapons of mass destruction. Working with all levels of government – Federal, State, and Local, interdisciplinary teams combine capabilities in applied microbiology, chemistry and the radiological/nuclear sciences, sensor design and prototyping, and information systems, to develop and implement effective surveillance, detection and response solutions.

NSTD’s Biomedicine programs develop concepts, systems, and technologies to enhance the survivability, sustainability and performance of warfighters and others who serve our Nation. Biomechanics programs seek to prevent injuries due to blast and conduct critical research to understand the effects of blast on the warfighter.   Programs are also investigating methods to reduce injuries to vehicle occupants and are supported by an advanced biomechanics impact test facility. The area of neurally controlled upper extremity prosthetics seeks to enable returning warfighters to return to active duty, restore their ability to be productive in the civilian sector and to drastically improve their overall quality of life. This prosthetics program is a Laboratory- and University-wide effort that includes top researchers and manufacturers from around the world. The establishment of the Army's Applied Biotechnology Center will facilitate the transition advanced biotechnology to meet key military and other national needs.   Our programs also support NASA's efforts to develop the medical systems required to permit long-term, manned spaceflight.

For additional information regarding NSTD’s organization and descriptions of the Technical Groups that make up the Department, please click here.