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COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF JUNE 28,1996 PSA#1626Defense Special Weapons Agency, 6801 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria, VA
22310-3398 A -- AGENCY NAME CHANGE POC Brian Wilt, Negotiator, (703) 325-6960,
Scott G. Morton, Contracting Officer, (703) 325-1200. The Department of
Defense (DoD) today (26 June 1996) announced that the Defense Nuclear
Agency (DNA) is renamed the Defense Special Weapons Agency (DSWA). This
change was made to reflect more accurately the Agency's mission under
its 1995 charter. DNA, whose lineage derives from the Manhattan Project
that produced the first atomic bomb, carried out nuclear support
responsibilities throughout the Cold War. Over the years, the name of
the organization evolved from the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project
in 1947, to the Defense Atomic Support Agency in 1959, to DNA in 1971.
Thus the ''special weapons'' designation is a return to the Agency's
roots, but the mission now encompasses both nuclear and advanced
conventional weapons support programs. The Agency's responsibilities
were increased as a result of two congressionally mandated studies of
its roles and functions. Missions include: --Maintaining a center for
nuclear technical expertise within DoD. --Conducting nuclear weapons
stockpile support and serving as the lead DoD agency for national
nuclear stockpile stewardship programs. --Performing nuclear and
advanced weapons effects research and operational support. --Carrying
out research and development to support U.S. government implementation,
compliance and verification of arms control treaties and agreements.
--Researching and developing capabilities for military responses to the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. --Supporting military
warfighters in analyzing plans and response options for both nuclear
and advanced conventional weapons. --Carrying out DoD's Cooperative
Threat Reduction program projects. The charter revision prompted an
Agency reorganization in December 1995, and the name change completes
the adjustment to the expanded charter. Maj. Gen. Gary L. Curtin is
Director, DSWA. The Agency headquarters is located in Alexandria, Va.
DSWA Field Command, a subordinate field operating organization, is
located at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, N.M. Field Command
also operates the Defense Nuclear Weapons School at Kirtland and
supports the Army's Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Demilitarization
System on Johnston Atoll in the Pacific. The Agency reports to Dr.
Harold P. Smith, Jr., the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for
Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs. (26 June 1996).
Reference Synopsis No. 96-71 (0178) Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0003 19960627\A-0003.SOL)
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