SOF COMM PSYOPS
Request:  $5,000,000
Patuxent River Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, MD 20670

Funding would be used to develop the ability to rapidly configure and modify modular communications systems for psychological operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of payloads for Special Operations Force's (SOF) aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. This is a good use of taxpayer money because it will increase the agility, responsiveness and effectiveness of these aircraft for dealing with continuing and emerging terrorist threats.

Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Request:  $5,000,000
Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head
3767 Strauss Ave., Bldg. 20, Indian Head, MD 20640-5150

Funding would be used to improve understanding of the physical basis of blast-related Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as well as a validated computational model for predicting injury to humans.  This is a good use of taxpayer money because the research will provide guidance on current methods used to mitigate TBI, and allow for earlier medical detection and treatment for military personnel exposed to mild TBI to prevent additional brain trauma.

Advanced Energetics Initiative
Request: $4,000,000
Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head
3767 Strauss Ave., Bldg. 20, Indian Head, MD 20640-5150

Funding would be used to research and develop technology for the next generation reactive material warhead concepts for highly reactive materials and novel reactive structural materials. This is a good use of taxpayer money because the continued development of new advanced energetics weapons, such as the thermo-baric and reactive material warhead, will provide enhanced capabilities against difficult targets in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mission Based Field Experimentation
Request: $3,000,000
Patuxent River Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, MD 20670

This funding will be used to enable the Army Research Laboratory partnership with United States Special Operations Command to use Webster Field in St. Inigoes as a venue for the test and evaluation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, sensors, and new communications systems. This is a good use of taxpayer money because it will enable regular interface between Special Operations Forces and the developers of cutting edge technologies in an open environment where they can explore the concepts and capabilities in a realistic field environment.

Underwater Explosives and Warhead Research
Request: $4,000,000
Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head
3767 Strauss Ave., Bldg. 20, Indian Head, MD 20640-5150

This funding will advance efforts to develop the next-generation of explosives and warheads that can defeat both submarines and surface targets, such as mines, and also be used successfully against new or evolving threats. This is a good use of taxpayer money because it will enable the U.S. Navy to protect its ability to ensure that the sea lanes remain open to commercial and military traffic.

SOF Mission Equipage
Request:  $2,300,000
Patuxent River Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, MD 20670

The funding will be used to purchase test and evaluation hardware systems to support the rapid test and evaluation of proposed weapon systems and platforms for Special Operations Forces.  This is a good use of taxpayer money because the funding will provide the Special Operations community with equipment that will help to expedite testing and evaluation of systems that are in urgent need in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Unmanned Air Systems Networking Communications
Request:  $2,000,000
Patuxent River Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, MD 20670

The funding would be used to provide forward deployed units with enhanced communication capabilities. This project will develop new and adaptive antenna and information security technology to supplement traditional mobile communication systems.  This is a good use of taxpayer money because this will provide the Navy with secure, accurate and real time information, which will improve mission effectiveness and survivability of platforms, crew, and war fighters on the ground.

Design for Maintainability Man-Machine Interface Lab
Request:  $2,000,000
Patuxent River Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, MD 20670

The funding will be used to provide engineering and laboratory support for the development of initial design requirements and standards for aircraft corrosion, and develop technical corrosion upgrades for existing aircraft.  This is a good use of taxpayer money because design engineering solutions, when introduced early in the acquisition process, will help to combat metal fatigue and enhance corrosion control of very costly weapons platforms, and extend their service life.

Center for Advanced Cyber Security Research
Request: $1,000,000
University of Maryland, College Park
College Park, MD 20742

The funding would be used to develop a Post-Doctoral National Corporate Cyber Security Program and a Cyber Security Fellows Program for University of Maryland and University System of Maryland students enrolled in math, electrical and computer engineering, computer science, logistics and related cyber security fields.  This is a good use of taxpayer money because it will address the current workforce shortfalls for skilled information technology professionals, by growing the local cyber security workforce and attracting cyber security post-doctoral professionals from across the country.

Advanced Spinal Cord Restoration Therapies
Kennedy Krieger Institute
707 North Broadway
Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Request: $1,000,000

The funding would be used to continue to develop spinal cord restoration therapies aimed at rehabilitating wounded warriors with spinal cord injuries. This is a good use of taxpayer money because both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have produced over 20,000 injured servicemen and women, and roughly twenty percent of these individuals will have suffered from serious brain or spinal cord injuries.  The new therapies and techniques developed will aid America's war fighters with spinal cord injuries and allow them to live even more fulfilling and productive lives.