![Ross Guieb talking to Ryan D. McCarthy during a tour at the Research Integration Center, with both wearing hard hats, construction vests and masks.](_news-images/BCDC-US-secretary-visit-news-30Sept2020.jpg)
U.S. Army Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy visited the RELLIS Campus today to see progress on The Texas A&M University System’s new, unique contribution to military modernization.
McCarthy toured construction of the George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex (BCDC). The complex was designed in consultation with the military and the defense industry. It will host experiments by researchers from Texas A&M University, other leading universities, the U.S. Army and other military branches, federal agencies, defense contractors and tech entrepreneurs. Thanks to help from the Army and the State of Texas, the Texas A&M System is able to invest $200 million in the complex.
“We are honored by Secretary McCarthy’s visit and pleased to show him how we are leveraging the state and federal investments with world-class researchers,” said Dr. M. Katherine Banks, vice chancellor of engineering and national laboratories for the Texas A&M System. “The BCDC reflects our enduring commitment to excellence in pursuit of national security.”
The BCDC’s first strategic partner is the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC), which has contracted with the Texas A&M System to research, experiment with and test prototypes for next-generation soldiering.
For more information, see the full press release about McCarthy's visit.