Enabling Science and Technology for

National Security Applications

Dr. Mark F. Smith, FASM

Deputy Director, Materials Science & Engineering Center

Sandia National Laboratories^*, Albuquerque, NM.

Advancements in science and technology are playing an important role in the battle to enhance the safety and security of our nation. This presentation discusses some unclassified examples of national security related research and development activities at Sandia National Laboratories, with special emphasis on the role of materials science and technology. Advances in materials and process science are enabling new high-technology local and remote sensors that will enhance our security by improving our ability to rapidly and inexpensively detect and identify potentially hazardous materials. Hi-tech solutions are also being developed to render biological and chemical hazards harmless and to safely disable explosives. This national security oriented presentation should be of interest to non-technical guests (spouses, parent/student night) as well as those engaged in materials related professions.

The “PAN Disruptor”, developed at Sandia to safely disable explosive devices, was successfully used at the cabin of the Unabomber.