1997

Air Force Research Laboratory Established

The Air Force Research Lab replaced Phillips Lab at Kirtland AFB. AFRL is comprised of eight technology directorates: Wright Lab at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, Rome Lab at Griffiss AFB, NY, and Armstrong Lab at Brooks AFB, TX. Its Mission: Leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. Eight Technology Directorates: Air Vehicles; Space Vehicles; Sensors; Information; Munitions; Directed Energy; Materials & Manufacturing; Propulsion; as well as the 711th Human Performance Wing and Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Of these technology directorates, two—Space Vehicles and Directed Energy—are located here at Kirtland AFB. Technology in these two arenas will likely form the foundation for the new Space Force branch of the Air Force currently in formation.