Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Infobox military unit The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (sometimes shortened to DEVCOM Soldier Center, DEVCOM SC, or CCDC SC) is a military laboratory in Natick, Massachusetts, charged by the U.S. Department of Defense with the research and development (including fielding and sustainment) of food, clothing, shelters, airdrop systems, and other servicemember support items for the U.S. military.<ref>CCDC Soldier Center official website</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is a component unit of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) and a tenant unit of the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center (NSSC), formerly U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center (SSC).<ref>U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center official website</ref>

The installation

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NSSC occupies Template:Convert at its main Natick campus and has an additional Template:Convert in neighboring communities. The main campus is located to the northwest of Natick center and abuts upon Lake Cochituate.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> The installation includes facilities from all the military services, not just the Army, and is so configured to allow cross-service cooperation and collaboration both within the facility and with the many academic, industrial and governmental institutions in the Greater Boston Area.

Employee/tenant numbers total 1,957 (159 military personnel, 1,048 civilians and 750 contractors).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The SSC public relations office reported that the installation’s FY2006 funding totaled approximately $1 billion and that the facilities infuse more than $135 million annually into the local economy through installation salaries, utilities, and local contracts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The installation commander is a U.S. Army Brigadier General, currently BG George Hackler, who also serves as the Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Organization and naming

NSSC is commonly known as Natick Laboratories, although this designation more properly refers to one of its tenant units, the U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center. DEVCOM SC was formerly the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC). DEVCOM is subordinate to U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) headquartered in Austin, Texas, which was activated in July 2018. Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) was formerly Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Mission

NSSC includes facilities designed to research and test both materials (textiles, combat rations), advanced technologies and human performance (human research volunteers) under simulated environmental extremes (altitude, heat, cold, wind, etc.). The requirement for improved combat rations has led to groundbreaking developments in the field of food irradiation and freeze-drying techniques. Improved body armor, new military parachuting technology, and enhanced military garments designed for a variety of environments are all ongoing efforts.

History

File:PDN Levels RGB InDfalt Out255 0.70 0, A-L, AKVIS HC-N, Shrpns60 HC-N, PDN Absframecrop, Rotate Bicubic 3.25 deg - Area view Color Film Negative NSSC Photo Collection (ca. 1951–1984) 008158 image primary(.png).jpg
Soldier Systems Center Natick on Lake Cochituate, ca. 1960

Construction of the Quartermaster Research Laboratory<ref name=":4">Template:Cite book</ref> at Natick, MA, was authorized by Congress in October 1949, and began in November 1952. The ceremonial laying of a cornerstone for the Natick facility happened on 30 May 1953, with Speaker Joseph W. Martin Jr., Sen. Leverett Saltonstall, Sen. John F. Kennedy, and others in attendance.<ref name=":4" /> In October 1953, the QRL was redesignated as the Quartermaster Research and Development Center, and designated a Quartermaster Class II installation. At the same time, the Quartermaster Research and Development Command was established at Natick, MA. The center was operable by summer 1954.<ref name=":3" /> Later, the center was redesignated as Quartermaster Research and Engineering Command in January 1957.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

July 1961 saw the activation of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) at Natick and a year later the QREC was placed under the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC). In November 1962, the QREC was redesignated as Natick Laboratories and the following year the Food and Container Institute moved to Natick. July 1967 saw the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> relocate to Natick.<ref name=":0" />

Natick Laboratories became a subordinate element to the Troop Support Command (TROSCOM) in July 1973 and was redesignated two years later as the U.S. Army Natick Development Center and reassigned to the AMC. The NDC was redesignated the U.S. Army Natick Research and Development Command (NARADCOM) in January 1976 and assigned to the U.S. Army Materiel Development and Readiness Command (DARCOM) (aka AMC, which was redesignated the U.S. Army Materiel Development and Readiness Command (DARCOM) that same month).<ref name=":0" />

In September 1980, NARADCOM was redesignated as the U.S. Army Natick Research and Development Laboratories, and three years later, in October 1983, as the U.S. Army Natick Research and Development Center, a subordinate element of the U.S. Army Troop Support Command (TROSCOM) in St. Louis, Missouri. (Elements of DARCOM and TROSCOM merged in July 1992 forging the U.S. Army Aviation and Troop Command (ATCOM), St. Louis, Mo.)<ref name=":0" />

In 1982, Natick Labs surrendered control of 3,100 acres in the Massachusetts towns of Hudson, Maynard, Stow and Sudbury to Fort Devens to become a field training facility. The land had been an ordnance supply depot during World War II. After being an Environmental Protection Agency "superfund" cleanup site in the 1990s, it became the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge.<ref name=":4" />

In October 1992, the NRDC was redesignated the U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center (NRDEC),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> still a subordinate element of ATCOM.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>

A U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command (SSCOM)<ref name=":1" /> was activated at Natick in November 1994. Elements subsequently established at the SSCOM included the Sustainment & Readiness Directorate (February 1995) and Product Manager-Soldier Support (October 1995); elements subsequently relocated to Natick included the Clothing and Services Office (October 1996; from Ft. Lee, Virginia) and Product Manager-Force Provider (June 1997). The Sustainment & Readiness Directorate became the Integrated Material Management Center in October 1997.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

SSCOM merged with the Chemical Biological Defense Command (CBDCOM)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to become the Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM) in October 1998.<ref name=":2" /> At this time the installation was renamed to Soldier Systems Center (SSC).<ref name=":0" /> At some time prior to January 2017, the installation was renamed Soldier Systems Center Natick (SSC).<ref>Video on Soldier Systems Center Natick official Facebook site</ref>

Sometime in the 1990s, NRDEC was redesignated as U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center (NSC),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> being redesignated later as U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) in the late 2000s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 3 February 2019, NSRDEC became U.S. Army CCDC Soldier Center (of Combat Capabilities Development Command).<ref name="CCDCSC12">Template:Cite web</ref> Sometime afterward, the acronym gradually transitioned from CCDC Soldier Center to U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tenant units and facilities

Soldier Systems Center Natick view, facing south-east

NSSC hosts several tenant units and facilities. The following lists detail them.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

List of research and development commands, centers, offices and elements:

Additional services:

List of facilities and laboratories:

List of commanding generals

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Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
As U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command

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As U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center

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As U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center

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Products and systems

Natick Labs has developed or is developing the following items or systems:

See also

References

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  • Earls, Alan R., (2005) U.S. Army Natick Laboratories: The Science Behind the Soldier (Series: Images of America), Arcadia Publishing.

This article contains information that originally came from US Government publications and websites and is in the public domain.

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