Director’s Welcome
The Directorate of Research and Development (CERD) leads the development of strategies and policies to guide Research and Development (R&D) activities, portfolios, and programs across the USACE enterprise; establishes the corresponding governance structures and policy mechanisms; coordinates the development of R&D-related implementation plans in collaboration with the appropriate USACE organizational elements; promotes increased awareness about the value of R&D; builds and manages relationships with Federal, State, industry, academic, and international partners to foster synergies across the R&D spectrum and promote collaboration with mission partners; identifies opportunities to align R&D investments across USACE with Army, DoD, interagency, and national strategic priorities; and advises the Chief of Engineers on science and technology matters.
Importance of Partnerships and Collaboration
USACE has devoted decades building a multi-disciplinary collaboration domain that represents a cohesive force with the ability to deliver innovative science and technology solutions to the Nation’s toughest challenges. At the core are researchers and solution developers throughout USACE at centers and laboratories such as the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Army Geospatial Center, and other locations. The connection between research and practical use is facilitated by Centers of Expertise and Communities of Practice, which support transitioning the latest planning, design, techniques, methods, and technologies into Corps projects worldwide.
Leadership and practitioners within USACE Headquarters, Divisions, Districts, and Centers are key stakeholders in defining strategic technological and research needs to deliver the USACE mission and identifying new challenges in the horizon. Outside the organization, USACE has built connections to stakeholders and partners throughout the Army and Armed Forces, civilian agencies in the federal government, and beyond. These connections can help USACE define strategic research directions and ensure today’s technological outputs enable transformational outcomes for tomorrow.
R&D Portfolios
USACE conducts scientific research and development to improve all aspects of mission planning, preparation, execution, and sustainment, including providing innovations to protect the safety of troops. USACE focuses on R&D that can advance Army modernization priorities, ensure battlefield dominance, and prepare the Armed Forces for changes to the character of war. This work benefits and supports numerous entities including Combatant Commands, Army, Department of Defense, and other federal agencies that support the warfighter.
- Installations and Operational Environments
The focus of this R&D portfolio is improving the reliability, efficiency, and effectiveness of military infrastructure at installations and on the battlefield. Innovations support execution of the Army Modernization, Installation, and Innovation Strategies, and provide the infrastructure enhancements needed to ensure success in multi-domain operations. This portfolio includes improvements in military construction technology, capacity and resource planning.
Research and development activities within this portfolio enhance USACE’s ability to execute its Civil Works missions to support commercial navigation; restore, protect and manage aquatic ecosystems; and reduce flood risk. Innovations are particularly focused on improving projects by reducing implementation times, improving functional resilience, enhancing public health and safety, and maximizing benefits to the economy as part of an integrated water resources management approach.
As the Nation’s premier public engineering organization, USACE often supports the delivery of projects and programs for other federal, state, and local agencies as well as private sector and international partners. This USACE R&D portfolio is highly diverse and includes providing engineering and construction services, research and development assistance, disaster relief and recovery work, national security R&D, water and land related natural resources management, and other specialized scientific and technical support.