News
ETC Interns Contribute to DEVCOM ARL Research Publication on Synthetic Material Modeling
Energetics Technology Center (ETC) interns recently contributed to a research publication in collaboration with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory, supporting efforts to advance synthetic material modeling and improve understanding of electromagnetic exposure impacts on Soldiers.
The publication focuses on the development of an automated modeling routine that introduces porosity, an interconnected network of holes or channels, into 3D objects using Blender, a software platform for 3D modeling and simulation. The approach enabled researchers to modify the density and material properties of objects for a range of scientific and engineering applications.
At DEVCOM ARL, the routine is being used to create porous synthetic bone materials capable of absorbing specialized gels to better replicate the mechanical and electrical behavior of human tissue. These models can then support safer, more controlled testing of how electromagnetic radiation from systems such as radar and portable jammers may affect the body.
While the research concept originated with ARL scientists, ETC interns played a role in bringing the project to life. Interns developed and refined the modeling algorithm, implemented the approach, tested multiple designs, and produced physical samples using 3D printing. The team also coordinated high-precision microCT scans to compare the printed structures against the intended digital models and created documentation to support future use by other research groups.
Beyond its current application in synthetic biological materials, the modeling approach has broader potential for researchers and manufacturers seeking to create lightweight or porous materials for physical products, simulations, or advanced manufacturing applications.
The collaboration reflects ETC’s continued partnership with DEVCOM ARL and commitment to providing hands-on technical opportunities for emerging STEM talent. Through projects like this, interns gain practical experience working in laboratory and research environments while contributing directly to real-world defense and scientific challenges.
ETC Hosts First Capture the Flag Competition at Perry Hall High School
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, Energetics Technology Center (ETC) hosted our very first Capture the Flag (CTF) competition at Perry Hall High School in partnership with University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)!
Through CyberLEARN (the student program of Cyber SyncED), 16 talented high school and undergraduate students from five local public high schools and UMGC put their problem-solving skills to the test on a virtual cyber range. They used real cybersecurity concepts to hunt for hidden flags in a dynamic virtual machine environment.
Congratulations to our winners:
1st Place: Yaphet Haimanot (Perry Hall High School), Johnathan Allen (Baltimore Polytechnic Institute), & Dylan Zander (Aberdeen High School)
2nd Place: Waleed Salam & Ryan Njonjo (both from Eastern Technical High School)
A huge thank you to every participant for bringing such incredible enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication!
Cyber SyncED, a $2 million congressional initiative in collaboration with DEVCOM ARL, ETC, and UMGC, is proud to advance cybersecurity and AI education for the next generation of talent right here in our community.
We are excited to host more CTF events soon and can’t wait to see even more students showcase their skills!
Learn more about the Cyber SyncED program.
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Insights
After DOT&E: Reforming Test and Evaluation for the Age of Lethality
by Dr. Marcus Jones
Executive Summary
This think-piece examines the implications and potential of the May 2025 directive reorganizing the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), a reform aimed at increasing agility, reducing bureaucratic friction, and focusing the Department of Defense’s test and evaluation (T&E) enterprise on its core statutory mission. The reorganization marks a turning point in the evolution of oversight and performance assessment for defense systems, one that invites fresh thinking about how best to align speed, innovation, and warfighter confidence. The urgency of this reform has now been explicitly acknowledged in Congress: the Senate’s FY26 NDAA includes a legislative proposal to establish an Alternative Test and Evaluation Pathway, initially scoped to software-intensive systems, that embodies many of the very principles advocated here: mission-focused evaluation, continuous feedback, early failure discovery, and decoupling from rigid documentation requirements.
Drawing on four decades of institutional experience, this paper explores the rationale for reimagining T&E as an integrated, continuous function grounded in mission context, powered by digital tools, and focused on fielding capabilities that are both effective and adaptable. It highlights how legacy structures, while built on good intentions, have often struggled to keep pace with the demands of software-defined systems, autonomous platforms, and modern joint operations.
The paper identifies key enablers that can help ensure the success of the current transformation: investment in digital test infrastructure, reinforcement of evaluation as a lifecycle function, preservation of transparent performance reporting, and the development of a modern T&E workforce. These steps are not about preserving legacy forms but about building a leaner, faster, and smarter T&E system aligned with emerging technologies and operational demands.