Major Explosives Center Development Begins

Cutting the ribbon are, from left, CECD Director Dr. Davinder K. Anand; Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes; & Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski.

A press conference and ribbon-cutting on October 12 launched the development of the Energetics Technology Center (ETC) in Southern Maryland, a spin-off of the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering Center for Energetic Concepts Development (CECD) in collaboration with the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Indian Head, the College of Southern Maryland, and Charles County Government. The facility will engage in research and development of energetic systems and related technologies, as well as in workforce development.

Present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony were CECD Director Dr. Davinder K. Anand; Maryland Senators Paul S. Sarbanes and Barbara A. Mikulski, ETC Director Richard H. Nadolink; State Delegates Sally Y. Jameson, Murray Levy, and John Bohanan; Charles County Commissioners Wayne Cooper (President), Al Smith, Candice Quinn-Kelly, Edith Patterson, and Robert Fuller; and Charles County Economic Development Director John Reardon.

"What we really want to do is transition these technologies into products, which will create jobs -- not just any jobs, but 21st-century career jobs," Nadolink said.

The Indian Head area of southern Maryland is already described as a “world center for energetics,” according to the Navy. Energetics is a field that combines mechanical, chemical and electrical engineering and has implications for both the military and private industry. The same energetics principles behind the explosion of bombs also help deploy vehicle airbags.

The CECD is a cooperative research, technology transfer, product development, and science and technology training alliance between the Clark School and the Indian Head Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center. CECD is under the direction of Professor Davinder K. Anand of the A. James Clark School’s Mechanical Engineering department.

Published October 20, 2006