What We Do at APL

Welcome to APL

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has pro-vided solutions to national security and scientific challenges with engineering, systems integration, research and development, and analysis for more than 70 years. APL is our nation’s largest University Affiliated Research Center, with approximately 5,000 staff members and 600 ongoing sponsored research projects. Our scientists, engi-neers and analysts serve as trusted advisors and technical experts to the government, ensuring the reliability of complex technologies that safeguard our nation’s security and advance the frontiers of space. We also maintain independent research and development programs that pioneer and explore emerging technologies and concepts to address future national priorities.

A University Affiliated Research Center

University Affiliated Research Centers are independent, nonprofit organizations that conduct essential research, development and systems engineering to support national security needs. The centers serve strategic national priorities, free from conflicts of interest or competition with commercial industry. Collaboration with leading research universities allows these organizations to provide the U.S. government with access to our nation’s most highly skilled scientists, engineers and analysts to tackle vital national security and scientific challenges.

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Research and Innovation

Developing advanced materials

Researching chemical and biomedical breakthroughs

Defining cybersecurity

Developing revolutionary prosthetics

Ensuring missile system performance

Designing missions to explore the solar system

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Air and Missile DefenseOur work focuses on ballistic missile defense, sensors and weapons, and integrated warfare systems. The spectrum of tasks includes the initial definition of critical needs and performing system requirements analysis, technology evaluation and experi-mentation, system developments and performance demonstrations, and testing and evaluation of major systems and elements with warfighters.

I didn’t expect the breadth of projects that I would be work-ing on. On a really good day, I might be doing anything from assembling a sensor payload on a target vehicle in Hawaii, celebrating having helped diagnose missile control fin actua-tion issues with a Japanese test crew in Nagasaki, or just finally getting my simulation to compile and run correctly.— Nathan, mechanical/aerospace engineer

I work in a small team of about 10 people in a lab where we test an infrared missile-guidance system. I really enjoy being a part of a team because it gives me the opportunity to discuss my ideas with other people.— Katie, electrical engineer

In my current technical lead role, I could be working on detailed RF signature phenomenology one day and the next day coordinating a large-scale systems engineering project. One pleasantly unexpected thing is the amount of foreign travel that I’ve done supporting multiple naval programs. The work has taken me to places abroad that I never thought I’d have a chance to see.— Jose, missile systems engineer

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Mission Areas

Civil SpaceWe make critical contributions to the missions of our major sponsor, NASA, to meet the challenges of space science. We conduct research and space exploration, and we develop and apply space science, engineering and technology, including the production of one-of-a-kind spacecraft, instruments and subsystems. Civil Space provides leadership in developing innovative, cost-effective, end-to-end space missions. APL has designed, developed and launched 68 spacecraft and more than 150 space instruments.

As a mission design engineer, I work with many different people on systems such as guidance and control, navigation, propul-sion and mission operations. It’s pretty cool to decide where a spacecraft will fly. It’s a large responsibility, and sometimes does require playing with rockets, so I can officially say that I’m a rocket scientist!— Chris, aerospace engineer

I love the hands-on nature of my job. I‘m responsible for testing the materials and systems that will protect a space-craft that is going to the sun. My biggest challenge is that no one has ever done this before, so there is no obvious path to follow.— Betsy, mechanical engineer

I love my work because each day brings the possibility of new discovery. I’m the Mission Operations Manager for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, on a 10-year journey to Pluto-Charon. My job is primarily to keep the spacecraft and its scientific payload safe and healthy so that it can return many scientific measurements and pictures. I’m amazed at how many people are interested in space exploration; we receive encouragement from people all over the world.— Alice, physicist

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Cyber OperationsThis mission area focuses on four areas of operations: the global information network, information assurance, intelligence systems and information operations. We create technology, tools, techniques and system concepts and work closely with our sponsors to ensure their objectives are met.

A large part of our work is helping the country find bad guys before they do bad things. We’re like detectives, working to put together the puzzle pieces of information that exist so we can identify our adversaries before they strike.— Jackie, mathematician

My job is to assess the vulnerabilities of wireless communica-tion systems to provide solutions that protect our systems or interfere with possible adversary systems. What I love about my job is that my contributions may be critical for the safety of others and that the challenges I face take me out of my comfort zone to explore new areas and state-of-the-art technologies.— Manuel, electrical engineer

I discover how enemies can steal the information we send across the Internet, corrupt the files we store on our computers, and disable our access to websites. Then I develop mechanisms to protect computer files and communications from cyber attacks.— Shelby, cybersecurity engineer

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Mission Areas

Homeland ProtectionWe focus on rapidly adapting to changing threats by developing technologies and enhanced capabilities. APL is helping provide end-users with the tools needed to detect and prevent terrorist attacks, means of terrorism and other illegal activities. Our work is sponsored by government agencies that are responsible for defending our homeland and territorial waters. We also support the operations of our armed special forces in their efforts to combat the threat from autonomous, decentralized terrorist groups.

What’s exciting about APL is that you have the opportunity to take a core set of skills and make important contributions to a broad range of challenges. For me that has included working on spacecraft flight dynamics, developing active sonar systems for the Navy, and helping the Department of Defense enhance situational awareness through the use of mobile devices.— Aaron, systems/software engineer

Working on APL’s Homeland Protection programs lets me use my multidisciplinary background in photochem-istry and cancer research in a meaningful way. Focusing on transportation security, I’m applying my experience in a way that impacts the day-to-day lives of everyone in this country who uses transportation.— David, chemist

I love my work—it’s very intriguing and gratifying at the same time. It’s a great feeling to know that your work and the work of others helps to protect the nation—your family, your neighbors, your friends—against chemical and bio-logical threats.— Kathlyn, immunologist

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National Security AnalysisThe National Security Analysis Mission Area provides multimission assessments for naval, joint and Office of the Secretary of Defense sponsors on a wide range of emerging or evolving national security issues. Analyses conducted by staff members in this mission area provide strategic insights that help guide other APL mission areas, as well as sponsored research programs.

I perform operational test and evaluation of new technology projects for the Department of Defense. I enjoy working with military personnel, government and industry organizations to ensure our military has the best capabilities available. There’s great satisfaction in planning a challenging, operationally realistic test event that is well executed and results in satisfac-tory system performance.— Will, combat systems analyst/project manager

My job satisfaction comes from seeing an idea or concept evolve into something real. I help to generate requirements for new models that will help the Navy conduct analysis for future investment decisions. I also do operations research and analysis, which requires a lot of math and modeling.— Trena, systems engineer

My best days at work are those where I make an impact on the lives of others. My job allows me to provide analytical support to military health care leaders and patient care providers, enabling them to make more informed decisions. We have a unique opportunity in the Department of Defense to effect large-scale change in health care operations and care delivery.— Kara, biologist/public health

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Mission Areas

National Security SpaceWe focus on space solutions to critical national security challenges. We develop and conduct innovative experimental missions, build space instruments and produce new applications to meet warfighter needs. We offer innovative engineering, ad-vanced technology development and a deep-rooted systems engineering culture. As part of a Department of Defense-sponsor-based organization, our National Security Space work also benefits from synergy with other APL mission areas.

I’m a project manager working on space environment and space situational awareness types of tasks. What I like most about my job is the ability to collaborate with a diverse set of scientists and engineers who are able to tackle complex but extremely important problems. Working at APL has given me the opportunity to apply my education to a completely new set of problems, ranging from academic space weather to national security space topics. I learn new things every day.— Erin, space scientist

I’m part of the management team for National Security Space programs at APL. One of the most interesting aspects of my job is the opportunity to interact with interdisciplinary teams, where each individual has deep expertise in a particular area, working together to come up with creative solutions to complex problems. This is the essence of systems engineering.— Dave, mathematician

Working in research and development at APL has afforded me the opportunity to work on a great variety of projects, from develop-ing algorithms for Earth-orbiting satellites to testing hardware for a mission to the outer solar system. No two days are ever the same—there’s always a new problem awaiting a creative solution.— Kristin, applied physicist

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Precision StrikeWe provide high-quality technical leadership and problem resolution in the concep-tion, design, development, integration and employment of detection and targeting, command and control, and engagement capabilities used for the projection of military effects appropriate to furthering national goals. Our efforts also include tactical aircraft, ship and submarine programs, and development of better technolo-gies for tactical surveillance and targeting.

My work is exciting and challenging, and to know that it has direct impact and relevance to the government is very rewarding. A really good day would entail conducting a complex computational-fluid-dynamics simulation to answer a critical question for a sponsor. What has surprised me is the diversity and range of tasks in which I have been involved.— Ashish, aerospace engineer

I develop autopilot and guidance routines that allow air vehicles to fly by themselves. One week I may be sitting at my desk developing a high-fidelity missile simulation, while the next I may be standing in the middle of a desert demonstrating novel swarm algorithms. I never know what I will be challenged with next in my job, and I love that.— Jeff, guidance and control engineer

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Mission Areas

Research and Exploratory DevelopmentThe Research and Exploratory Development Mission Area merges science, technol-ogy and systems engineering to provide highly innovative, affordable and timely solutions to critical national challenges. We serve as a portal to technological expertise, supporting both government sponsors and other APL mission areas in cross-enterprise initiatives. We have expertise in multiple technical disciplines, solid systems engineering, and rapid prototyping and integration.

As a crash, blast and ballistic biomechanical engineer, my work focuses on the study of injury: both how humans are injured and how to best prevent that injury from happen-ing under similar circumstances. I also study impacts from ballistic rounds, explosions, helicopter crashes and other extreme-loading conditions. — Kyle, mechanical engineer

My work primarily involves the design, fabrication, modeling and control of first-generation electromechanical hardware for a variety of applications ranging from computer-aided surgery to defense. My favorite days are those when all parts of a system are fully fabricated and we get to do our first fit-check and assembly of a design. That moment when everything clicks is just awesome! — Mike, mechanical engineer/roboticist

I work in experimental biomechanics, developing and testing human surrogate torso models and systems that allow us to investigate the effects that blasts have on the human body. The instrumented human torso lets us evaluate the ability of body armor to protect soldiers against blast and ballis-tic impacts. — Alexis, biomedical engineer

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Sea ControlWe support U.S. Navy and joint service missions, with the focus on the systems and technologies to defeat undersea threats and to project military power through effective undersea warfare operations. Our staff represents a broad set of skills and capabilities, from science and engineering to operations analysis. We possess expertise in submarine detection systems and the ability to build and test undersea prototype systems. We are a major test organization, conducting extensive, complex research and development operations at sea.

Coming out of college, I expected to do mechanical design of some sort, but my career took me to systems engineering —where you get to take all the designed parts, put them together and make them work. As a project manager now, I’m doing budgets and schedules too, plus supervising. I like getting to see the “big picture.”— Toni, mechanical engineer

APL tends to have strong operational knowledge of systems and their use by the warfighters. This knowledge helps to focus our work on providing systems and solutions that are relevant and address important operational problems.— Lisa, electrical engineer

The beauty of APL is that we have such a broad range of techni-cal abilities and expertise, as well as fabrication facilities. On any given day, I can be involved in the whole spectrum of engi-neering tasks, from 3-D modeling to drawings, finite element analysis, hardware assembly or rapid prototyping. The projects range from air to ground to sea and even to space. There’s always a challenge to keep you on your toes.— Richard, mechanical engineer

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Mission Areas

Special OperationsThe Special Operations Mission Area was established in recognition of the increas-ingly important role that special operations play in the administration of our nation’s foreign policy. The mission area’s goal is to create and enable asymmetric capabilities for this community by providing objective technical direction and timely, cost-effective technology solutions.

I always tell people that working at APL is like stepping into a Popular Science-type magazine. That cool, new technol-ogy everyone is fascinated with—we normally have already studied it months, sometimes years, in advance. Dealing with these technologies so far in advance only challenges us to look further into the future and ask, “What’s next?”— Liam, electrical engineer

Having started at APL fresh out of college and working in the Materials Analysis Lab, my current position—the lead systems engineer for an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system—was not anything I would have considered for myself, but APL provided me with the opportunity and the experience. — Jonathan, mechanical engineer

My job at APL is to help our sponsors find new and better ways of gathering optical information from far away. I work with a multidisciplinary team to incorporate new imaging technology to do everything from greenhouse gas monitoring to biometric signature gathering.— Alison, electro-optics engineer

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Strategic DeterrenceAPL has made vital contributions to the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Ballistic Missile system program for more than 50 years. We are rising to the challenge of redefining strategic systems from the legacy nuclear mission to a broad set of responses to current and future national security challenges. Our mission area demonstrates unequaled exper-tise in system development, testing and evaluation, and we are applying that knowl-edge to the newly expanded roles of strategic systems in the Department of Defense.

I’ve been exposed to some really cool modeling and simulation projects. Our work requires everything from the physics-based code concepts that drive the back end of simulations to the beautifully rendered 3-D front-end models and animation for the user interface. Each project is a unique undertaking with specific sponsor-driven requirements and therefore different analytical approaches, both of which provide opportunities to learn and try new things. I love watching it all come together and being a part of it all.— Danielle, physicist

I’m a navigation subsystem analyst for the Navy’s ballistic missile submarines. Because submarines operate under water, they can’t use GPS continually to back up their inertial navigators. I look at the performance of the various types of navigation equipment aboard the sub to see that the system is operating well, and I help evaluate the root causes of any problems.— Karen, systems analyst

I help determine the accuracy and reliability of the U.S. Navy’s Trident II System by analyzing a specific subsystem of the total weapon-system delivery method. I also lead the integration of new error models into our statistical analysis software to maintain our capability to evaluate this subsystem through future upgrades.— Kunal, applied physicist/software engineer

Applied ExpertiseSystems

Missile ∙ Combat ∙ Spacecraft ∙ Communications ∙ Surveillance ∙ Radar ∙ Command and Control ∙ Information ∙ Display

Technologies

Electronics ∙ Information Processing ∙ Navigation ∙ Guidance ∙ Propulsion ∙ Aerodynamics ∙ Oceanography ∙ Space Physics ∙ Sonar ∙ Software Development ∙ Signal Processing ∙ Materials ∙ Biomedicine

Mission Support

Precision Engagement ∙ Ship Defense ∙ Strategic Deterrence ∙ Tactical and Ballistic Missile Defense ∙ Electronic Warfare ∙ Littoral Warfare ∙ Surveillance ∙ Antisubmarine Warfare

Special Operations

Cybersecurity ∙ Rapid Prototyping ∙ Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Technologies

Field OfficesCrystal City2461 S. Clark Street Suite 1200Arlington, VA 22202

FairfaxFair Oaks Plaza11350 Random Hills Road Suite 620Fairfax, VA 22030

Huntsville150 West Park LoopSuite 308Huntsville, AL 35806

Lexington Park46579 Expedition DriveSuite 300Lexington Park, MD 20653

Los AngelesContinental Grand Plaza400 Continental Blvd. Suite 6066El Segundo, CA 90245

Norfolk5700 Lake Wright DriveTwin Oaks Building 1 Suite 405Norfolk, VA 23502

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The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that complies with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, as well as other applicable

laws, and values diversity in its workforce.

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APL is located midway between Washington and Baltimore, with convenient access to major highways and local attractions. See our Visitor’s Guide for more details.