What We Do at APL
Welcome to APL
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has provided 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, engineers 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.
Research and Innovation
Ensuring missile system
performance
Researching chemical and
biomedical breakthroughs
Defining cybersecurity
Developing revolutionary
prosthetics
Developing advanced
materials
Designing missions to
explore the solar system
1
Air and Missile Defense
Our 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 experimentation, 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 working 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 actuation 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
2
Mission Areas
Civil Space
We 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, propulsion 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 spacecraft 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 PlutoCharon. 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
3
Cyber Operations
This 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 communication 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
4
Mission Areas
Homeland Protection
We 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 photochemistry 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 biological threats.
— Kathlyn, immunologist
5
National Security Analysis
The 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 satisfactory 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
6
Mission Areas
National Security Space
We 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, advanced 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 developing 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
7
Precision Strike
We provide high-quality technical leadership and problem resolution in the conception, 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 technologies 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
8
Mission Areas
Research and Exploratory
Development
The Research and Exploratory Development Mission Area merges science, technology 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 happening 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 ballistic impacts.
— Alexis, biomedical engineer
9
Sea Control
We 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 technical abilities and expertise, as well as fabrication facilities. On any
given day, I can be involved in the whole spectrum of engineering 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
10
Mission Areas
Special Operations
The Special Operations Mission Area was established in recognition of the increasingly 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 technology 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
11
Strategic Deterrence
APL 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 expertise in system development, testing and evaluation, and we are applying that knowledge 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
12
Applied Expertise
Systems
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 Offices
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APL is located midway
To Frederick
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between Washington and
Baltimore, with convenient
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and local attractions. See
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details.
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Baltimore
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495
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For more information, contact:
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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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