CECD officials and partners gather at University of Maryland for 10th anniversary celebration.

The CECD’s faculty, students, alumni, NSWC officials and invited guests gathered at the Inn and Conference Center on the University of Maryland campus to celebrate this occasion. Among the guests were state officials Chancellor William E. Kirwan, Maryland Sen. Thomas ‘‘Mac” Middleton, and Del. John Bohanan, along with NSWC Technical Director Steve Mitchell and Indian Head Division’s Technical Director, Dr. Robert Gates. U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski was represented by her aide, Dick Myers.

During this 10 year period, the CECD signed two five-year cooperative agreements with IHDIV for a total of $8.9 million in CECD research covering 130 technical projects, which were conducted by 52 scientists and engineers from IHDIV and 31 faculty and researchers from the University of Maryland. The CECD has also forged close ties with Southern Maryland. In 2004, the CECD formalized The Southern Maryland Development Initiative for Energetic Capability and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IHDIV and the College of Southern Maryland. In 2006, the CECD played a key role in establishing The Energetics Technology Center (ETC) in Southern Maryland. From 2003 to 2008, the University of Maryland awarded 26 master of science degrees and 11 doctorate degrees supported by CECD funds and cost-free tuition provided by the University of Maryland.

Professor Anand, the center director, opened the event and welcomed all gathered. ‘‘We celebrate our tenth birthday with great pride and considerable amount of satisfaction” he said. ‘‘We have a decade of solid achievements and contributions in science and technology related to energetics and at having established a good and mutually valuable relationship with the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head. As we celebrate the past decade we are eager to face the challenges of the ensuing decade.”

Other speakers included Chancellor Kirwan, Sen. Middleton, Mary Lacey, and Mitchell. Their remarks were followed by technical presentations by Professor Don L. DeVoe on ‘‘Nanotechnologies for Trace Explosives Detection,” Professor Satyandra K. Gupta on the ‘‘Role of Virtual Environments in Design and Training,” Darrin Z. Krivitsky on ‘‘Lean Manufacturing,” and Professor James Short on ‘‘Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.” Lunch speakers included Del. Bohanan, Professor Millard Firebaugh, and Myers.

The CECD tenth year anniversary celebration presented an opportunity to thank all individuals and institutions that have helped and supported the establishment of the center and its growth and its achievements in advancing the field of energetics and training the next generation of energetics experts.