The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has underscored its dedication to providing critical contributions to critical challenges facing the nation's defense community with the opening of a field office in Red Bank, N.J., which will support technology development programs at nearby Fort Monmouth.

APL, based in Laurel, Md., will provide on-site technical support to communications and information security projects designed to advance the Army's large-scale restructuring of its telecommunication infrastructure. The work will allow future systems to take better advantage of advanced networking and wireless, mobile and Internet Protocol (IP) technologies to become more flexible and net-centric.

The Lab has worked with the Army's Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM) for more than 20 years, advancing research, development and deployment of new communications technology and systems. APL's role as technical advisors for many homeland security programs operating from Fort Monmouth will also be strengthened by having a permanent local office, as will its role with the Program Executive Offices (PEOs) responsible for satellite and radio communications, network management and information assurance.

"The Applied Physics Lab wants to ensure that we're working on the most critical challenges for the Army and we're more likely to achieve that by having a constant presence near Fort Monmouth," says Dr. Thomas Curtis, director of the new office. "The rapid introduction of new communication technology, the focus on net-centric operations and the impact on military tactics and operations have increased the need for on-site collaboration between APL and the Army. Our new office will go a long way to providing such essential support."

Curtis recently joined the APL staff after a career in science and technology at AT&T/Bell Labs in Holmdel, New Jersey, where he led projects in digital signal processing, speech research, satellite communications technology, defense and government communication systems, digital cross-connect system development, and Internet security.

After leaving AT&T Labs he headed an optical switching start up company, Ultra Fast Optical Systems, and for the last two years has served as a consultant to APL. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, and masters and doctorate degrees in nuclear physics from Yale University, New Haven, Conn.

The new Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory field office is located at 125 Half Mile Road, Suite 200, Red Bank, N.J. 07701.

(Go to http://www.jhuapl.edu/newscenter/pressreleases/2004/040505.htm for online release and related photos.)

The Applied Physics Laboratory, a division of The Johns Hopkins University, meets critical national challenges through the innovative application of science and technology. For more information, visit http://www.jhuapl.edu.