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DCN 82
May 5, 1995
Alan J. Dixon
Chairman
Base Realignment and Closure Commi: sion
1700 North Moore Street
Arlington, Virginia 22209
Dear Chairman Dixon:
The undersigned are former United States Air Force Chief Scientists. In our prior capacities
as the Air Force's senior scientific representatives, we have had the opportunity to work with
and appreciate the military value of Rome Laboratory to the Air Force, the Department of
Defense, and the country. Therefore, we are driven to write you this letter, expressing our
grave concerns regarding the Department of Defense recommendation to relocate most of
Rome Laboratory to Hanscom Air Force Base and Fort Monmouth.
We understand that the Department of Defense must operate in an environment of shrinking
resources, and is under considerable pressure to downsize. Notwithstanding those pressures,
this proposed action is a judgment call with which we disagree. Our reasons for
disagreement are set forth below.
1. Rome Laboratory is a Unique and Irreplaceable Resource; Movement Will Severely
Damage That Resource
Rome Laboratory is an important Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and
Intelligence (C4I) resource. The proposed movement will severely damage that resource.
The Lab undertakes some unique and outstanding activities that ought to be preserved. For
example, the Intelligence directorate, in addition to conducting research, develops devices
and systems that are critical to the Air Force. The Photonics laboratory conducts "leading
edge" research with a fine collection of personnel ranging from experienced scientists, to
recent recipients of doctoral degrees, to doctoral candidates. The latter are students at
Cornell University and Syracuse University.
The greatest strength of a laboratory is its people. Any move of Rome Laboratory will cause
senior people -- who provide the Laboratory its leadership -- to take retirement. Some key
junior people, like those at the Photon cs laboratory, are likely to opt to stay at their
respective universities to pursue their doctorates.
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United States. Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. Rome Laboratory, text, Date Unknown; (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc26522/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.