Defence Science and Technology Organisation

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The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is a branch of the Australian Department of Defence which researches and develops technologies for use in the Australian Defence Industry. DSTO was created in 1974 by amalgamating the Australian Defence Scientific Service with the Science Branch of the Department of Defence. Over the next 20 years various other Australian Defence laboratories were integrated with DSTO, including what remained of the Weapons Research Establishment, responsible for the Woomera test range.

DSTO has sites in each state of Australia.

Edinburgh in Adelaide, South Australia
Fishermans Bend and Maribyrnong in Melbourne, Victoria
Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory
Pyrmont in Sydney, New South Wales
HMAS Stirling at Rockingham south of Perth in Western Australia
Innisfail in north Queensland
Scottsdale in Tasmania

The DSTO mission is to provide expert, impartial and innovative applications of science and technology to the defence of Australia and its national interests. DSTO supports Australia’s defence by investigating future technologies for defence applications, ensuring Australia is a smart buyer of defence equipment, developing new defence capabilities, and enhancing existing capabilities by increasing operational effectiveness, improving safety, maximising availability and reducing the cost of ownership.

The DSTO values are:

Excellence - to pursue scientific excellence.
People - to value our people and help them to excel.
Innovation - to seek innovative solutions for Defence.
Integrity - to provide expert, impartial advice and to stand by it.
Teamwork - to work together.

Headed by the Chief Defence Scientist, Dr Roger Lough, DSTO has an annual budget of approximately $300 million and employs about 2300 staff, predominantly scientists, engineers, IT specialists and technicians. At all times, DSTO works closely with the industry, science and technology community to enhance its ability to support Australia's defence capabilities and to contribute to national wealth.

History

1910 - Defence science began in Australia with the start of explosives research at a guardhouse (called the Chemical Adviser’s Laboratory) at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne.
1922 - Chemical Adviser’s Laboratory became the Munitions Supply Laboratories (MSL) of the Munitions Supply Board.
1939 - Aeronautical & Engine Research Test Laboratory established at Fishermans Bend as part of the CSIR Division of Aeronautics.
1946 - A laboratory was established in Finsbury, South Australia (later known as Woodville North when the suburb name was changed) as a branch of Defence Research Laboratories.
1947 - Long Range Weapons Establishment (LRWE) formed in Salisbury, South Australia to support guided weapons facility at Woomera.
1948 - MSL changes its name to Defence Research Laboratories.
1949 - Fishermans Bend laboratory transferred from CSIR to the Department of Supply & Development; renamed Aeronautical Research Laboratories (ARL). Australian Defence Scientific Service established, incorporating LRWE and the Defence Research Laboratories.
1949 - Laboratory established in Alexandria, NSW as part of Defence Research Laboratories to undertake research in physical metallurgy and metallurgical chemistry areas.
1949 - Three new laboratories formed in Salisbury - High Speed Aerodynamics Laboratory, Propulsion Research Laboratory and the Electronics Research Laboratory, collectively known as the Chemistry & Physics Research Laboratory.
1953 - Defence Research Laboratories changes name to Defence Standards Laboratories.
1955 - LRWE and all the Salisbury laboratories amalgamated to form the Weapons Research Establishment (WRE).
1956 - The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Experimental Laboratory established.
1958 - The Army Food Research Laboratories were formally established at Scottsdale in Tasmania under the Quartermaster General Branch, Army Headquarters. The Laboratories’ role included research and development of foods for the three Services. Laboratories re-named Defence Food Research Establishment-Vegetable Dehydration Division in 1958.
1960 - The Defence Food Research Establishment-Vegetable Dehydration Division re-named The Army Food Science Establishment.
1961 - The Army Food Science Establishment re-named The Army Food Research Station.
1962 - Joint Tropical Research Unit (JTRU) established in Innisfail, Queensland and operated jointly with the British Ministry of Defence.
1969 - RAN Experimental Laboratory changes name to RAN Research Laboratory (RANRL).
1971 - The Army Food Science Establishment re-named the Armed Forces Food Science Establishment.
1972 - ARL transferred to the Department of Manufacturing Industry.
1974 - As a result of Defence restructuring the Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) is created by integrating the Australian Defence Scientific Service, the in-house R&D units of the Armed Services and the Science Branch of the Department of Defence. Defence Standards Laboratories becomes the Materials Research Laboratories (MRL).
1975 - Official transfer of all Defence R&D activities to DSTO in the Department of Defence. The Armed Forces Food Science Establishment (AFFSE) became part of the Service Laboratories and Trials (SLT) division of DSTO.
1977 - Joint Tropical Trials and Research Establishment established (JTTRE), merging JTRU and Tropical Trials Establishment situated at Cowley Beach in Queensland.
1977 - MRL, Woodville North transferred to CSIRO Division of Manufacturing Science and Technology.
1978 - WRE split into four small laboratories: Weapons Systems Research Laboratory (WSRL), Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL), Trials Research Laboratory (TRL) and Advanced Engineering Laboratory (AEL).
1982 - The Armed Forces Food Science Establishment became a part of Materials Research Laboratories (MRL).
1984 - RAN Research Laboratory transferred to WSRL.
1985 - Materials Research Laboratories, Alexandria, NSW transferred to Army.
1987 - Five year restructuring of DSTO laboratories begins. New Surveillance Research Laboratory created and WRE’s Electronics Research Laboratory reorganised. RANRL transferred to MRL and re-named.
1989 - Control of Cowley Beach was returned to the Army and Innisfail became MRL, Qld.
1992 - The UK-Australia Tropical Research agreement terminated.
1991 - WSRL abolished to leave four laboratories in DSTO.
1994 - ARL and MRL merge to form the Aeronautical & Maritime Research Laboratory (AMRL). Surveillance Research Laboratory and Electronics Research Laboratory merge to form the Electronics & Surveillance Research Laboratory (ESRL), leaving only two laboratories in DSTO.
1994 - The Armed Forces Food Science Establishment was re-named The Defence Food Science Centre (DFSC).
1997 - ESRL complex rationalised and new Knowledge Systems building officially opened. The Defence Food Science Centre (DFSC) was re-named Defence Nutrition Research Centre (DNRC).
2002 - DSTO restructured, resulting in three laboratories: Platforms Sciences Laboratory, Systems Sciences Laboratory and Information Sciences Laboratory.
2004 - H A Wills Structures and Materials Test Centre officially opened at Fishermans Bend.
2004 - CBRN functions transferred from Maribyrnong to Fishermans Bend.
2004 - Torpedo Systems Centre and Maritime Experimentation Laboratory opened at DSTO Edinburgh
2005 - Director Platforms Sciences Laboratory renamed Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Aerospace), Director Systems Sciences Laboratory renamed Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Systems), Director Information Systems Sciences Laboratory renamed Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Information) and First Assistant Secretary Science Policy renamed Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Policy). Air Operations Division to report to Deputy CDS (Aerospace). New stand-alone Information Integration Branch created in Edinburgh under Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Information).
2008~ - DSTO Pyrmont to move to Redfern
2008~ - DSTO facilities in Melbourne to be consolidated at one site in Fishermans Bend with the transfer of facilities and functions from Maribyrnong.

Much of this information is taken from the DSTO official site as listed below

External links

http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/ Official site

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