Requesting Entity: Purdue University in partnership with NSWC Crane
Location: Purdue University, 610 Hovde Hall, Room 233, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2040
Project Name: Battery Research Initiative: A Partnership of Purdue University and NSWC Crane
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Summary: These funds would be allocated to establish the Battery Research Initiative (BRI) which will be developed as the national resource for re-establishing a United States based battery manufacturing capacity for national defense applications. This project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because BRI will serve as a leading edge center of battery cell and battery system manufacturing technology and science, focused primarily on addressing Department of Defense (DoD) customers with additional interest on non-defense opportunities as long as they are aligned with the DoD interests. These technologies will lead to sustainable growth in the field of battery research, thus resulting in job creation to support this emerging sector. Current warfighter requirements for power and energy are increasing faster than current technology can deliver. Advanced battery technology is a critical enabling technology that is required to achieve warfighting requirements. There are a significant number of power and energy initiatives that will benefit from the Battery Research Initiative, including manned combat submersibles and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles.
Requesting Entity: NSWC Crane
Location: NAVSURFWARCENDIV, 300 Highway 361, Crane, IN 47522
Project Name: Platform Protection Engineering Complex (P-328)
Amount Requested: $19,140,000
Project Summary: This funding would be used to build facilities which are required for the rapid reaction design, build, and testing various critical electro-optic imaging devices. This project will construct an addition to the existing Electro-Optics Facility, a Light-Tight Tunnel for indoor testing, and enhancements to an existing EO-IR-Laser Proving Range for outdoor testing. This project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will help NSWC Crane to deliver and sustain Shipboard Protection Systems, required by 2014, which are so critical to our warfighter.
Requesting Entity: University of Southern Indiana in partnership with NSWC Crane
Location: University of Southern Indiana, 8600 University Boulevard, Evansville, IN 47712
Project Name: STEM Outreach Education in Southwest Indiana
Amount Requested: $1,233,000
Project Summary: This funding would be used for Navy workforce development for K-12 STEM Outreach Education in Southwest Indiana. This partnership between the University of Southern Indiana (USI) and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division will utilize the administration, faculty, and scientists of the partner organizations to improve the regional STEM workforce through programs and activities targeting K-12 teachers and students. High-quality professional development activities designed to improve content knowledge and pedagogy of K-12 STEM teachers will be offered to teachers in 17 counties in southwest Indiana. The teachers will be engaged in hands-on, inquiry-based activities using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. These activities will be directly transferable to their classrooms. Distance education programming will provide teachers with easy access to additional coursework, while also improving their technology skills. This project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the program will create a highly-skilled and technologically-talented workforce. The partnership and collaboration between NSWC Crane and USI will provide significant human intellectual capital to transform the educational experience for both teachers and students in southwest Indiana.
Requesting Entity: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in partnership with NSWC Crane
Location: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 5500 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, IN 47803
Project Name: Photonic Digital-Beamforming System
Amount Requested: $5,500,000
Project Summary: This funding would be used for the photonic digital beamforming system which will provide a path to accomplish the military's mission with improved situational awareness, reduced personnel and with faster response. Rose-Hulman will build a scalable all optical digital RF beamformer to process multiple radar, communication, and electronic warfare for Navy's broadband active phased-array antennas. This project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the photonic digital beamforming systems will provide a path to accomplish the military's mission with improved situational awareness, reduced personnel and with faster response.
Requesting Entity: Vincennes University
Location: Vincennes University, 1002 N. First Street, Vincennes, IN 47591
Project Name: Distance Instructional Support Center (DISC)
Amount Requested: $1,774,800
Project Summary: This funding would be used for Vincennes University (VU) to provide local Distance Instructional Support Center (DISC) computer centers at Naval Base Coronado, San Diego and Fort Benning, GA. These centers will have computer clusters for student usage and will be staffed with trained mentors to assist students in succeeding. This project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because service members and dependants who are prepared for college level work will be able to enroll in high quality academically challenging courses. The DISC program will enhance our military students' learning and increase their opportunities for success.
