US Department of Defense
BLAST INJURY RESEARCH
COORDINATING OFFICE
Advancing Blast Injury Research to Protect and Heal Those Who Serve

Coordinating Responsibilities

The Department of Defense (DoD) Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office (BIRCO) works to synergize efforts across a diverse community of medical and non-medical researchers within the DoD, other Federal agencies, academia, the private sector, and international communities. By sharing information in real-time, promoting multi-disciplinary/multi-institutional collaborative science, identifying knowledge gaps, and shaping research programs to address those gaps, the BIRCO enables the Blast Injury Research Program to provide Service Members with the best strategies for preventing, mitigating, and treating blast injuries.

Coordinating Responsibilities

The Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 6025.21E assigned key Department of Defense (DoD) components with specific responsibilities to coordinate and manage the medical research efforts and DoD programs.

CDR MEDCOM

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (ASD(R&E)) establishes procedures to ensure new technology developed under the Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) is effectively transitioned and integrated into systems and transferred to DoD components; chairs the Armed Services Biomedical Research, Evaluation and Management (ASBREM) Community of Interest (COI); oversees the functions of the Department of Defense (DoD) Executive Agent (EA); and serves as the final approving authority for DoD blast injury research programs.

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)) assists in requirements development; assesses and coordinates relevant research efforts to resolve capability gaps; approves Military Health System (MHS) blast injury prevention, mitigation, and treatment standards; appoints representatives to Department of Defense (DoD) Executive Agent (EA) coordination boards and committees; and ensures the information systems capabilities of the MHS support the EA.

The Secretary of the Army (SECARMY) was designated as the Department of Defense (DoD) Executive Agent (EA) for Medical Research for Prevention, Mitigation, and Treatment of Blast Injuries. In 2007, the SECARMY delegated authority and assigned EA responsibility to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)). The ASA(ALT) further delegated authority and assigned responsibility to the Commander, US Army Medical Command (USAMEDCOM).

The Commander, USAMEDCOM, as the delegated Executive Agent (EA), coordinates and manages DoD blast injury research efforts and programs by:
  • Maintaining a DoD technology base for medical research related to blast injuries
  • Performing programming and budgeting actions for all blast injury research based on analysis and prioritization of DoD component needs
  • Providing medical recommendations on Military Health System (MHS) blast injury prevention, mitigation, and treatment standards
  • Executing the approved DoD Blast Injury Research Program
  • Ensuring that blast injury research information is shared

The Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Air Force assist in requirements development and coordinate all blast injury research efforts and requirements through the Executive Agent (EA).

The President of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) ensures education relating to blast injury prevention, mitigation, and treatment is included in the USU medical education curriculum and programs. The president coordinates all blast injury research efforts and requirements through the Executive Agent (EA), and appoints representatives to any coordination boards or committees related to blast injury research.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) coordinates all blast injury efforts and requirements through the Executive Agent; appoints a senior member to the Armed Services Biomedical Research, Evaluation and Management (ASBREM) Community of Interest (COI); and appoints representatives to any coordination boards or committees related to blast injury research.

The Commander, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) establishes procedures for the coordination of Defense Major Force Program 11 activities with those of the Executive Agent (EA); forwards that Command's approved blast injury research requirements to the DoD EA; and appoints representatives to the Armed Services Biomedical Research, Evaluation and Management (ASBREM) Community of Interest (COI) and any other coordination boards or committees related to blast injury research.

The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), now known as the Joint Improvised Threat Defense Agency (JIDA), supported the development, maintenance, and usage of a joint database on the efficacy of theater Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and vehicular equipment designed to protect against blast injury by helping to establish the Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injuries in Combat (JTAPIC) Program. The JTAPIC Program fulfills the intent of a "joint database" by providing a process that enables data sharing and analysis across communities. Continuing responsibilities include identifying related operational and research needs, coordinating research efforts to resolve capability gaps, and appointing representatives to the Armed Services Biomedical Research, Evaluation and Management (ASBREM) Community of Interest (COI) and any other coordination boards or committees related to blast injury research.

Includes medical research and health care delivery communities: the medical research community investigates biological mechanisms of injury and pursues medical solutions for the prevention, treatment, and/or rehabilitation of blast injuries; and the health care delivery community follows clinical practice guidelines and uses medical technologies to prevent, mitigate, or treat blast injuries and rehabilitate Service Members for return to duty or reintegration into civilian life.
  • Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
  • Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
  • Army Materiel Command (AMC)
  • Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC)
  • Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD)
  • Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
  • Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center (NSRDEC)
  • Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
  • Director Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E)
  • Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence (EACE)
  • Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE)
  • Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP)
  • Naval Health Research Center (NHRC)
  • Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC)
  • Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC)
  • Office of Naval Research (ONR)
  • PEO Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS)
  • PEO Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI)
  • Program Executive Office (PEO) Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS)
  • Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships)
  • Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier)
  • Program Manager Light Armored Vehicles (PM-LAV)
  • Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM)
  • Vision Center of Excellence (VCE)

The materiel development community develops equipment and technologies that address operational requirements and capability gaps to enable Service Members with combat-effective systems and protection from blast and other injuries.
  • Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
  • Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
  • Army Materiel Command (AMC)
  • Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC)
  • Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD)
  • Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
  • Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center (NSRDEC)
  • Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
  • Director Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E)
  • Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence (EACE)
  • Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE)
  • Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP)
  • Naval Health Research Center (NHRC)
  • Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC)
  • Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC)
  • Office of Naval Research (ONR)
  • PEO Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS)
  • PEO Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI)
  • Program Executive Office (PEO) Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS)
  • Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships)
  • Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier)
  • Program Manager Light Armored Vehicles (PM-LAV)
  • Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM)
  • Vision Center of Excellence (VCE)

The test and evaluation community evaluates the effectiveness, performance, and impact of materiel, such as weapons systems and protective equipment, to help prevent and mitigate blast injury.
  • Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
  • Army Aberdeen Test Center (ATC)
  • Army Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCOE)
  • Army Materiel Command (AMC)
  • Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
  • Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)
  • Assistant Deputy Under of the Army for Test & Evaluation (ADUSA(T&E))
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Developmental Test & Evaluation (DASD(DT&E))
  • Director Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E)
  • Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIDO)
  • Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP)
  • Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC)
  • Navy Commander Operational Test & Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR)
  • Office of Naval Research (ONR)
  • PEO Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS)
  • PEO Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI)
  • Program Executive Office (PEO) Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS)
  • Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships)
  • Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier)
  • Program Manager Light Armored Vehicles (PM-LAV)
  • Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM)

The operational communities implement evidence-based strategies and use medical and nonmedical technologies to prevent, mitigate, or treat blast injuries.
  • Air Force Medical Service (AFMS)
  • Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC)
  • Army Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCOE)
  • Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA)
  • Army Medical Command (MEDCOM)
  • Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD)
  • Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
  • Army Public Health Center (USAPHC) (Provisional)
  • Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)
  • Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED)
  • Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC)
  • Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE)
  • Defense Health Agency (DHA)
  • Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence (EACE)
  • Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE)
  • Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injury in Combat Program (JTAPIC)
  • Marine Corps Headquarters Health Services
  • National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC)
  • National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE)
  • Navy Fleet Forces Command
Click any item above to read more...
Click any item above to read more...

Includes medical research and health care delivery communities: the medical research community investigates biological mechanisms of injury and pursues medical solutions for the prevention, treatment, and/or rehabilitation of blast injuries; and the health care delivery community follows clinical practice guidelines and uses medical technologies to prevent, mitigate, or treat blast injuries and rehabilitate Service Members for return to duty or reintegration into civilian life.

  • Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
  • Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
  • Army Materiel Command (AMC)
  • Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC)
  • Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD)
  • Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
  • Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center (NSRDEC)
  • Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
  • Director Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E)
  • Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence (EACE)
  • Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE)
  • Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP)
  • Naval Health Research Center (NHRC)
  • Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC)
  • Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC)
  • Office of Naval Research (ONR)
  • PEO Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS)
  • PEO Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI)
  • Program Executive Office (PEO) Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS)
  • Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships)
  • Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier)
  • Program Manager Light Armored Vehicles (PM-LAV)
  • Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM)
  • Vision Center of Excellence (VCE)

Last modified: 23-Sep-2024