United States Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratory

The Army established its first engineer board at Willets Point, New York, now Fort Totten, in 1870. Around the turn of the century, the engineer board was transferred to Washington Barracks, DC, where it was disbanded in 1920. It was replaced by the Board on Engineer Equipment, which was set up the following year in 1921, at Camp Humphreys, Virginia, now Fort Belvoir. This was the forerunner of the Engineer Board, which guided the research and development activities of the Corps of Engineers from 1933 to 1947. Initially, the Board occupied two temporary buildings near the present Wallace Theater. Its mission continued to expand, however, and the Engineer Board moved into the current facilities in 1942.[https://search.worldcat.org/title/883661611 "A quick look at BRDEC, U.S. Army Belvoir RD & E Center"]. U.S. Army Troop Command, [Fort Belvoir, Va.?], [1991?]. OCLC 883661611. Retrieved 26 March 2025 – via WorldCat.org. p. 5 "The Army established its first Engineer Board at Willets Point, NY, now Fort Totten, in 1870. Around the turn of the century, the Board was transferred to Washington Barracks, DC, where it was disbanded in 1920. It was replaced by the Board on Engineer Equipment, which was set up the following year, 1921, at Camp Humphries, VA, now Fort Belvoir. This was the forerunner of the Engineer Board, which guided the research and development activities of the Corps of Engineers from 1933 to 1947. Initially, the Board occupied two temporary buildings near the present Wallace Theater. Its mission continued to expand, however, and we moved into our current facilities in 1942. In 1947, the Board changed its name to the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories (ERDL). Twenty years later, in 1967, ERDL became the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center (MERDC) when its functions were transferred to AMC. We were renamed the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM) in 1976. In 1983, MERADCOM became part of TROSCOM and were renamed the Belvoir Research and Development Center. Two years later, the word "Engineering" was added to our title to more accurately reflect our mission".

The ERDL was formed in 1947, when the Army's Engineer Board's laboratory elements were redesignated to Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, or ERDL,{{Cite journal |date=1995 |title=Guide to Federal Records, sec. 77.13.4 |journal=US Army publication |quote=Engineer Research and Development Laboratories History: Established March 1, 1947, at Fort Belvoir, VA, pursuant to War Department General Order 26. All functions transferred from the Engineer Board to the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, October 20, 1947, by OCE letter ENGTY. Released from assignment to OCE and transferred to the U.S. Army Materiel Command, August 1, 1962, pursuant to Department of the Army General Order 46. |via=US National Archives}}Pennington, John, History of the U.S. Army Engineer Topographic Laboratories 1920-1970, Ft. Belvoir, VA: Army Engineer Topographic Laboratories, AD-785 549, Nov. 1973 on 1 March 1947, in accordance with War Department General Order 26. The Engineer Board, continued to function as the directive and policy-making body for the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories. The change in name was made to clarify the status of the scientists and technicians who conducted research and development work at the installation.{{Cite journal |date=21 April 1947 |title=Immediate Release..., 1947: p. unnumbered (War Department information Division Press Section Press Release Belvoir Engineer Research Facilities Redesignated, April 21, 1947) |journal=US Army publication |quote=US. Army Engineer research and development facilities of the Engineer Board at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, have been redesignated by the War Department as the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories. The Engineer Board, however, will continue to function as the directive and policy-making body for the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories. The change in name was made to clarify the status of the scientists and technicians who conduct the research and development work at the installation. Previously, the Board, the technical staff, and the laboratory facilities all bore the same name. The new name was perceived as being more accurately descriptive of the duties and activities of the laboratories. The change is part of a recent reorganization at Fort Belvoir in which all army activities were consolidated under a single headquarters with the establishment of The Engineer Center, under the command of Major W. M. Hoge. Previously, Army Engineer research and development activities at Fort Belvoir had been administered directly by the Office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington. Under the new set-up, Engineer Research and Development Laboratories is under the administrative supervision of the Director of Research and Development of The Engineering Center, operating through the Engineer Board. Technical supervision remains with the Chief of Engineers. At present Colonel E. S. J. Irvine is serving in a triple capacity as Director of Research Development of The Engineer Center, President of the Engineer Board, and Commanding Officer of the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories |via=US National Archives}}

By 20 October 1947, all functions of the Engineer Board laboratory elements had been transferred to ERDL. Under the new set-up, the ERDL was under the administrative supervision of the Director of Research and Development of the Engineering Center, operated through the Engineer Board, and technical supervision remained with the Office of the Chief of Engineers (OCE).

On 1 August 1962, ERDL was released from assignment to OCE and transferred to the US Army Materiel Command (AMC), August 1, 1962, pursuant to Department of the Army General Order 46, dated 25 July 1962,{{Cite journal |date=26 July 1962 |title=Headquarters United States Army Materiel Command General Orders No. 5 |journal=US Army publication |quote=Effective 1 August 1962, the following Class II installations and activities, under the jurisdiction of the commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command, are placed under the command jurisdiction of Commanding Generals, To the Commanding General, U.S. Army Mobility Command: Other Activities: U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Laboratories Ft. Belvoir, Va. |via=US National Archives}} and further assigned to the US Army Mobility Command (MOCOM) by AMC General Order 5, dated 26 July 1962.{{Cite journal |date=March-April 1976 |title=Army Research and Development Newsmagazine, vol. 17, no. 2 |journal=US Army publication |volume= |issue= |page=17 |quote=When the Army Materiel Command was formed, two Corps Engineers Laboratories, CRREL and the Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (renamed MERDC), were transferred to AMC |via=US National Archives}}

In 1966, ERDL transferred from US Army Materiel Command to the US Army Mobility Equipment Command (MECOM).

==Army Equipment Development milestones==

Among other things, the ERDL was responsible for the creation of the ERDLator water treatment device in World War II, the ERDL woodland camouflage pattern in 1948, and the updated M1950 lensatic compass.

The ERDL also established the first US Army research group dedicated to night vision systems in 1954, called the Research and Photometric Section.{{Cite web |title=NVESD |url=http://www.nvl.army.mil/about/index.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040916195030/http://www.nvl.army.mil/about/index.php |archive-date=16 September 2004 |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=www.nvl.army.mil |publisher=RDECOM CERDEC}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Mobility Equipment Research & Development Center / Command

| image = ArchiveMERADCOMlogo.png

| caption = MERADCOM logo

| dates = 1967–1984

| country = United States

| branch = US Army

| type = Military R&D organization

| garrison = Fort Belvoir, Virginia

| motto =

| identification_symbol = 150px

| identification_symbol_label = MERDC logo (1967)

| identification_symbol_2 = 150px

| identification_symbol_3 = 150px

| identification_symbol_2_label = MERDC logo (1975)

| identification_symbol_3_label = MERDC logo alternate (1975)

}}

In 1967, the ERDL was redesignated to Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center (MERDC) on 1 September 1967.{{Cite journal |date=28 August 1967 |title=Headquarters Department of the Army General Orders No. 34 |journal=US Army publication |quote=Effective 1 September 1967, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, a class II activity under the jurisdiction of the Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command, is redesignated the U.S. Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center |via=US National Archives}} MERDC also served as the Directorate of Research and Engineering for US Army Mobility Equipment Command (MECOM).

The center performed research, development and evaluation necessary for the procurement and support of the major mobility items managed by the command. In it, five assigned commodity groups—materiel transportation and handling, troop support, construction – and providing technical support and assistance to equipment users.{{Cite journal |date=Summer 1971 |title=Defense Industry Bulletin, vol. 7, no. 3 |journal=US Army publication |at=36 |quote=Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center (MERDC) at Fort Belvoir, Va., is a vital element of the Mobility Equipment Command (MECOM). In addition to its role as an active laboratory complex, MERDC also serves as the Directorate of Research and Engineering for MECOM. The Center performs research, development and evaluation (RD&E) necessary for the procurement and support of the major mobility items managed by the command in it five assigned commodity groups- materiel transportation and handling, troop support, and construction – an provides technical support and assistance to equipment users |via=US National Archives}}

Facilities available to MERDC included a test area of {{Convert|820|acre|m2}} on the west side of Shirley Highway, a part of the Fort Belvoir complex. A major portion of this area was used for testing of detectors and sensors.{{Cite web |date=1972 |title=Protection of Public Figures. Symposium Proceedings, May 16-18, 1972 |url=https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA053984/page/2/mode/1up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/download/DTIC_ADA053984/DTIC_ADA053984.pdf |archive-date=25 April 2017 |access-date=1 June 2025 |website=archive.org |publisher=US Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center (USAMERDC), Fort Belvoir, VA |pages=2 / pdf p. 6 |id=ADA053984 |quote=MERDC requires a workforce of 1300, which is to include approximately 500 scientists and engineers."; "Facilities available to MERDC include a test area of 820 acres on the west side of Shirley Highway, a part of the Fort Belvoir complex. A major portion of this area is used for testing of detectors and sensors.}}

In 1972, MERDC had a workforce of 1,300 employees, of which approximately 500 were scientists and engineers.

In 1973, MERDC became an agency of the newly-formed US Army Troop Support Command (TROSCOM). MERDC remained part of TROSCOM until 1975, when the center began to report directly to AMC.{{Cite journal |date=January-February 1982 |title=Army Research and Development Newsmagazine, vol. 23, no. 1 |journal=US Army publication |page=30 |quote=By 1947, the [Engineer] board...assumed its new identity as the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories (ERDL)...the laboratories left the direction for the chief of engineers in 1962, and came under the control for the Army Materiel Command (AMC), which was established at that time and, in 1967, ERDL was renamed the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center (MERDC). When AMC was reorganized in 1973, MERDC became an agency of the newly-formed Troop Support Command (TROSCOM), and it remained part of TROSCOM until 1975, when the center began to report directly to AMC...MERADCOM was born when MERDC was given full command status in January, 1976 |via=US National Archives}}

In 1976, MERDC became the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM) on 23 January 1976, having been given full command status.

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Belvoir Research, Development & Engineering Center

| image = BookletBRDEClogoRotBicubic0.62crop.png

| caption = BRDEC logo

| dates = 1984–unknown

| country = United States

| branch = US Army

| type = Military R&D organization

| garrison = Fort Belvoir, Virginia

| motto =

}}

On 1 March 1984, MERADCOM was disestablished. Its functions were divided between the newly established Aviation Systems Command (AVSCOM) and Troop Support Command (TROSCOM).{{Cite journal |date=1999 |title=RG 544 Allocation Statement |journal=US Army publication |quote=U.S. Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM), formerly U.S. Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center, an element of U.S. Army Mobility Command [MOCOM]), 1/23/76-2/29/84 Abolished, 3/1/84, with functions divided between newly established U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command (AVSCOM) and U.S. Army Troop Support Command (TROSCOM) |via=US National Archives}} Around the same time, the Belvoir Research and Development Center was formed in its place.{{Cite journal |date=May 1997 |title=The Genealogy of ARL |journal=US Army publication |page=18 |quote=This was the forerunner of the Engineer Board, which guided R & D activities of the Corps of Engineers from 1933 to 1947, when the name was changed to the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories (ERDL). ERDL transferred into AMC in 1962, first as part of the Mobility Command, then as part of the Mobility Equipment Command (MECOM). In 1967, ERDL became the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center, which was renamed the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM) in 1976. Then, in 1983, MERADCOM became part of TROSCOM and was redesignated the Belvoir Research and Development Center. Two years later, the word "Engineering" was added to the name |via=US National Archives}}{{Cite web |date= |title=A quick look at BRDEC, U.S. Army Belvoir RD & E Center |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/883661611 |access-date=26 March 2025 |publisher=U.S. Army Troop Command, [Fort Belvoir, Va.?], [1991?] |via=WorldCat.org |oclc=883661611 |quote=The Army established its first Engineer Board at Willets Point, NY, now Fort Totten, in 1870. Around the turn of the century, the Board was transferred to Washington Barracks, DC, where it was disbanded in 1920. It was replaced by the Board on Engineer Equipment, which was set up the following year, 1921, at Camp Humphries, VA, now Fort Belvoir. This was the forerunner of the Engineer Board, which guided the research and development activities of the Corps of Engineers from 1933 to 1947. Initially, the Board occupied two temporary buildings near the present Wallace Theater. Its mission continued to expand, however, and we moved into our current facilities in 1942. In 1947, the Board changed its name to the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories (ERDL). Twenty years later, in 1967, ERDL became the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center (MERDC) when its functions were transferred to AMC. We were renamed the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM) in 1976. In 1983, MERADCOM became part of TROSCOM and were renamed the Belvoir Research and Development Center. Two years later, the word "Engineering" was added to our title to more accurately reflect our mission.}} Shortly afterward, the word "engineering" was added to its name.

• Soldier Systems Center Natick
• PEO Soldier, program executive office

{{Reflist}}

• US Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Plan (1981) - archive.org
• [http://www.themilitarystandard.com/army_base/vi/fort_belvoir.php Fort Belvoir history - themilitarystandard.com (unofficial) [Before 13 April 2016]]
• [https://search.worldcat.org/title/883661611 A quick look at BRDEC, U.S. Army Belvoir RD & E Center booklet [Either in or after 1985^] - WorldCat.org]
• [https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011411551 The Center of high technology : Belvoir Research, Development and Engineering Center booklet [ca. ~1985 - 1989] - WorldCat.org]

{{coord missing|Virginia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:United States Army Engineer Research And Development Laboratory}}

Category:Fairfax County, Virginia

Category:Research installations of the United States Army

Category:Military installations in Virginia