DoD Launches Program Aimed at Identifying More Efficient Equipment

Members of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Sustainable Technology Evaluation and Demonstration (STED) Program are researching new technologies available to the military that are more effective, better for the environment and cheaper to develop and use.

The initiative was launched last year, and even though the program is relatively new, the team has gone to work and has already seen several successes.

Firstly, the Marine Corps Shooting Team tested and evaluated a new biobased cleaner, lubricant and preservative (CLP), a product that Reginald Mack, deputy director of the STED program, called a “game changer.” The technology replaced the traditional CLP that soldiers had been using for years. Through testing and evaluation, the shooting team discovered that the CLP takes less application, allows the weapon to perform better and more safely and cuts down on the smell, smoke and waste, according to Mack.

Additionally, the CLP cut the time required to clean the weapon in half and decreased carbon buildup, according to DoD officials. The CLP’s success led to the creation of a new rule, which states that “all CLP for weapons and weapons systems must contain a minimum of 33% biobased content,” according to DoD personnel. Mack added that when put into effect across the DoD, it will save the federal government $1.74 million per year.

“That CLP is the best thing I’ve seen,” said Mack. “And the feedback that we get, just hands down, everyone that we work with that used the product swears by. Those competition shooters love it. I’m sure all the other services are like, ‘Hey, if the Marine Corps Shooting Team even likes it, we will too.’”

Another success that Mack and David Asiello, program manager of the STED program, highlighted during an interview with SIGNAL Media is a biobased absorbent. Asiello called the technology “pretty basic,” but this is an idea that has proven to effectively clean up oil spills of all kinds. The product replaces the dangerous strategy of using clay-based materials; however, these materials contained silicone, which then caused people to contract silicosis and become extremely sick, according to Asiello. The biobased absorbent offers a new, healthier way to clean up the oil—one of its many benefits.

“This absorbent not only works better; it’s all biobased,” said Asiello. “We took it to Fort Stewart in the training command, and they just loved it because it worked better, less waste, absorbed all different kinds of oils, you could reuse it and the costs were much less. It’s a win-win.”

Other technologies that the STED program identified are energy-efficient doors, which are saving the DoD millions of dollars per year in energy costs; biobased engine oil, which allows users to obtain better gas mileage and less wear on the engine; and biobased tires, which proved to be so effective that FBI offices across the country recommended that their services change their tires to the new biobased option, according to Asiello and Mack.

These technologies are only a handful of the plethora of successes that the STED program has played a role in identifying so far.

As mentioned, the STED program is relatively new, but the idea behind it has been discussed for years, according to Asiello and Mack. They said that the government developed programs that were similar to STED and were successful, but due to administration and funding changes, the initiatives never cemented their place in the DoD.

“We created the STED program to basically take alternatives that were ‘cleaner, greener, better, safer’ and do some analysis of do they really work,” Asiello said. “I remember 20 years ago someone would say, ‘Well, we have this recycled content paper or this product that was better,’ and the paper would jam up the copy machines and wouldn’t work.”

And with the significant improvement of technology this century, Asiello and his team are on a mission to find innovations that truly benefit the military in many ways.

“Over the last 15-20 years, these technologies have gotten so much better, but there are still a bunch of naysayers out there that are like, ‘Well, prove it to me, show me,’ so we do this,” Asiello added. “That’s what the program is all about: proving the performance of the technology and alternative product in the field, letting the warfighter test it themselves. Give us honest feedback because if it doesn’t work, we don’t want to put it out there.”

Because of the program’s early success, Asiello and Mack could not be more excited about the future of the program.

“I came in ‘87 and retired in 2013, and I tell folks all the time, I wish this program existed during that time,” Mack said. “Being a warfighter on the ground, using a lot of products. If this program was around, I think we would be way past our time using technology because it’s so good. A lot of the things used back then weren’t that good, but it’s improved over the last 20 years. And to me, it’s the best thing since sliced bread.”

“It’s not just a DoD program,” Asiello said. “We’ve expanded it with other federal agencies: NASA, Homeland Security, Postal Service, EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and GSA [General Services Administration], to help make this whole thing come together, so that’s why it’s been so exciting.” Even though it’s relatively new, expanding it has been embraced.”

Asiello added that they have bipartisan support from lawmakers on the Hill.

Looking ahead, Asiello, Mack and the rest of the STED program team are working to expand their impact within the federal government. Additionally, Asiello stressed the importance of getting the word out in public and ensuring that the program is well-known.

“I envision expanding this with Reggie’s leadership in the future to take it to the next level,” Asiello said. “There’s no reason why we can’t. It’s just basic, great common sense. Why wouldn’t you want to do something like this that’s better for your operations, your capabilities, resilience, and these are the kinds of technologies and projects and products that can help us get there.”

“A lot of these products outperform some of the products we’ve used in the past,” Mack said. “A lot safer for the user, for the environment; saving costs; improving performance capabilities, so you would get that. We get a lot of that response when we get surveys back from the warfighter on the ground. It’s a really good program, and we’re really glad to be a part of it and to provide this for the warfighter going forward.”