U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center Unveils Expanded Biomanufacturing Facility at Aberdeen Proving Ground
June 14, 2024
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Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD — On June 12, 2024, Pentagon senior leaders and Harford County Executive Robert Cassilly joined U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) officials to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the center’s newly renovated and expanded biomanufacturing pilot facility at Aberdeen Proving Ground. This 25,000-square-foot facility is set to play a crucial role in advancing national defense capabilities and fostering economic growth in Harford County and beyond.
The newly enhanced facility aims to eliminate dependence on foreign suppliers and pioneer the production of innovative materials essential for national defense. According to Michael Bailey, DEVCOM CBC Director, academic and Department of Defense research laboratories are currently synthesizing microbes capable of producing chemicals and materials with extraordinary properties, but only at gram-sized scales. This facility will scale up production from gram-sized quantities to up to 1,000 kilograms, enabling industry to further expand to commercial levels for real-world applications. DEVCOM scientists will also work on optimizing these microbes to enhance their suitability for large-scale production.
In attendance at the ceremony were Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology Michael Holthe and Harford County Executive Robert Cassilly, both of whom highlighted the facility’s significance to the Department of Defense (DoD) Chemical Biological Defense Program and its potential positive impact on the regional economy.
“It is together that we build an ecosystem, of which this facility is a part, that fills an important gap,” said Bailey. He emphasized that government investment in biotechnology at Aberdeen Proving Ground and the multiple partnerships required for success will positively impact Harford County and Maryland, with a ripple effect felt across the nation. “These investments are being made today and will pay off tomorrow.”
Since commencing operations in 2020, DEVCOM CBC has received a $50 million investment from the Army and the Tri-service Biotechnology for Resilient Supply Chains Program of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering. This funding has been used to modernize and expand the facility’s capabilities, including the addition of liquids separation technologies for downstream processing of biomanufactured chemicals and upgrades to the fermentation laboratory.
“Now we can make critical high-value chemicals that can be used in both military systems and create entirely new materials with both military and civilian industrial benefits, all while increasing the nation’s supply chain resiliency,” said Dr. Kelly Basi, DEVCOM CBC Biomanufacturing Branch Chief.
Dr. Peter Emanuel, Deputy Principal Director for the Office of Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Development, added, “The expansion of this facility cements DEVCOM CBC’s role as a national leader in biomanufactured materials development. I am excited to see the center work with its academic and industry partners to create new materials while creating jobs across the country.”
Bailey also expressed enthusiasm about deepening partnerships with academic institutions and training the next generation of scientists, including hosting interns from Harford County Community College, Cecil County Community College, the University of Delaware, and the University of Maryland at Baltimore County.
About DEVCOM CBC
The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) operates under the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) and DEVCOM. AFC provides Army modernization solutions to enable the Joint Force, employing Army capabilities, to achieve overmatch in future operational environments. As a major subordinate command of AFC, DEVCOM leads in the discovery, development, and delivery of technology-based capabilities, enabling soldiers to win our nation’s wars and return home safely. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, DEVCOM CBC is the Army’s principal research and development center for chemical and biological defense technology, engineering, and field operations.
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