Naval collaboration aids COVID-19 gear production

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) recently announced that the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Keyport and the Tech Bridge program are providing those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic with needed equipment.

The entities have manufactured over 500 face shields and personal protection equipment (PPE) for first responders at two hospitals and naval commands in the state of Washington, executing 3D printing of medical face shields at multiple warfare centers and naval laboratories to meet the increased protective equipment demand.

Tech Bridges are made up of partnerships between the ONR, the Naval Expeditions Agility Office, the Navy’s Technology Transfer Program Office, and all naval systems commands, serving as regional innovation hubs where warfare centers, government, academia, and industry work together on technology research, evaluation, and commercialization.

“The naval workforce is playing an important role in the response to COVID-19,” Richard Carlin, ONR director of technology-acceleration programs, said. “It’s critical that we help bolster industry’s capabilities, in order for first responders to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

Aaron Darnton, NUWC Keyport chief technology officer, said the effort does not seek to compete with industry, but offer surge support and additional resources to meet emergency demand.

“If industry is overwhelmed, we can leverage our capabilities as a warfare center to be a backfill of sorts,” he said.