Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG)

Aberdeen Proving Ground is one of the most diversified military installations in the United States and the work that takes place at this 72,000-acre complex touches almost every aspect of U.S. military operations. Home to the world's leaders in research, development, testing and evaluation of materiel, APG military and civilian personnel have had a profound impact on the way wars are fought.

For much of its 95-year history, APG was known as a test and evaluation facility for the Army and home to ordnance troops. More recently, because of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005 and other factors, APG evolved into a hub of research, development, and test and evaluation activity for the joint services. Not only has the installation grown larger, its role among military bases changed. Considered by military leaders as a "megabase," APG serves as a premiere center for science and technology.

History 

Aberdeen Proving Ground was established by order of President Woodrow Wilson on October 20, 1917, six months after the United States entered World War I, and officially opened in December 1917. The Army had taken over 69,000 acres of land and water to provide an area for design and testing of ordnance. Sandy Hook, NJ, and the Army’s proof and acceptance testing ground for ammunition and cannon since 1874 was being closed and the Chesapeake Bay site was selected as the best suited to carry the mission of testing field artillery. 

Edgewood 

From this beginning, APG has grown and evolved into one of the most diversified military installations in the United States. On land acquired 16 miles from Aberdeen, the Edgewood Area of APG (formerly known as Edgewood Arsenal) was also developed in 1917 as a chemical weapons, research, development and testing facility. The July 1971 merger of Edgewood Arsenal and Aberdeen Proving Ground created a unique combination of activities and missions. Today, APG is recognized around the world as a leader in the research, development, testing and evaluation of materiel. 

Modern improvements 

The growth from BRAC 2005 represents APG's largest expansion since World War II. With this BRAC came the electronics and communications that realign and complement support for the war-fighter. Aberdeen Proving Ground continues to reinvent itself to meet the demands of the day. Drawing on its long history in computing, organizations at APG are at the leading edge of development of new technologies to address one of the major threats to national security today - cybersecurity.