[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 118 (Monday, July 22, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E747-E748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE NAVAL AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN WARMINSTER, 
                              PENNSYLVANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 22, 2024

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, today it is my great honor to rise in 
recognition of the countless invaluable contributions of the Naval Air 
Development Center (NADC) in Warminster, Pennsylvania, to the aerospace 
heritage of my community and our entire country.
  For six decades, the NADC has been the cornerstone of United States 
Naval aviation research. Before the era of Silicon Valley and Research 
Triangle Park, NADC was the premier aviation research center and cradle 
of aerospace innovation.
  Originally acquired from the Brewster Aircraft Corporation by the 
United States Government during World War II, the NADC transitioned to 
United States Navy management in 1947 and quickly became synonymous 
with innovation, pioneering advancements in pilotless aircraft, modern 
aircraft design, propulsion systems, electronics, surveillance 
technologies, acoustics processing, communications, navigation 
(including Global Positioning System (GPS)), and weaponry. Its mission 
was clear: to be a global leader in naval aviation research and 
development, and it accomplished this mission successfully.
  The NADC housed over thirty laboratories, each focusing on various 
critical aspects of naval aviation. These hubs of innovation drew 
visionary engineers, scientists, technicians, and support staff from 
across the nation to take part in this groundbreaking research that 
pushed the boundaries of aerospace technology. Their collective efforts 
yielded numerous breakthroughs crucial to securing our national defense 
and advancing global aerospace capabilities.
  Among their countless achievements, one of the most significant was 
the establishment of the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory 
(AMAL). Central to this laboratory was the world's most powerful human 
centrifuge. Famously known as the ``Johnsville Centrifuge'', this 
facility played a critical role in advancing the understanding of high-
performance jet aircraft's effects on pilots, significantly 
contributing to the training and safety protocols of pilots in 
groundbreaking programs like the North American X-15, Mercury, Gemini, 
Apollo Spacecrafts, and Space Shuttle missions.
  In addition, the Anti-Submarine Warfare Laboratory was instrumental 
in developing cutting-edge technologies vital to the Navy's Cold War 
efforts. Innovations like the Lockheed P-3 Orion and S-3 Viking 
aircraft, Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopters, and 
advanced sonobuoys significantly enhanced their capability to detect 
and counter Soviet submarine threats.
  Furthermore, the NADC served as the lead laboratory for several 
iconic aircraft, including the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas 
F/A-18 Hornet tactical fighters, the Presidential Helicopter fleet, and 
the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) communications platforms. Its 
influence extended beyond aircraft to encompass the entire spectrum of 
navigation systems used by Navy aircraft, submarines, and surface 
vessels.
  The NADC crew systems office was also responsible for pioneering 
advancements in aviation life support, life sciences, and crew station 
technologies. From the Navy Common Ejection Seat (NACES) to flight 
helmets and flame-retardant NOMEX flight suits, the innovations and 
initiatives born out of this office underscore the profound impact the 
NADC has had in enhancing pilot safety and mission effectiveness.

[[Page E748]]

  The Naval Air Development Center's legacy has shaped the past and 
future of naval aviation and inspired generations of engineers, 
scientists, and innovators to pursue excellence in aerospace research 
and development.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand before this esteemed chamber proud and humbled 
to celebrate the invaluable contributions of the NADC and commend their 
decades of dedication, expertise, leadership, ingenuity and innovation. 
Because of their commitment to fostering exploration, research, and 
development in aerospace technology, our Nation continues to be a 
leader on the global stage of aviation technology.

                          ____________________