Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton (NAMRU-D) is a biomedical research laboratory of the United States Navy in Dayton, Ohio. It is one of seven subordinate commands of the Naval Medical Research Command and incorporates two research divisions. The Environmental Health Effects Laboratory was established in 1959 in Bethesda, Maryland, and moved to Dayton in 1976. NAMRU-D's predecessor organization, the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (NAMRL), dates back to 1939 when it was established as an aviation medical research unit at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Pursuant to a 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission decision, NAMRL began incrementally relocating to Dayton in late 2010. and was formally disestablished at NAS Pensacola in September 2011.Naval Medical Research and Development News, Volume III, Issue 9, September 2011, pp. 1-2 Despite being a Navy activity, NAMRU-D was set up on the grounds of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base at Dayton so it could be co-located with similar U.S. Air Force activities.

History The U.S. Navy Toxicology Unit was established in January 1959 in response to air quality issues within the first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, as well as toxicity concerns about replacements for flammable hydraulic fluids. It was initially based at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and by 1965 had 22 personnel. Around that time, its building was condemned because of structural deficiencies, but due to funding difficulties for a new building they continued to occupy it through 1976, when the building was about to be lost to termites. In May 1975, the Navy Toxicology Unit was incorporated into the Naval Medical Research Institute. The following year it was relocated to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, increasing collaboration with the Air Force toxicology program.

An aviation medicine research and training unit was established in 1939 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, which in 1946 became part of the newly established Naval School of Aviation Medicine, later called the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI). In 1974 it was separated into its own independent command as the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (NAMRL). Multiple different research projects have been conducted at NAMRL, such as research on human performance limitations by LCDR Justin S. Brown, USN, the Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device (ROBD), and the Tactile Situation Awareness System (TSAS) by Capt. Angus Rupert, USN. In June 2010, it moved to Ohio and merged with the Environmental Health Effects Laboratory to form NAMRU-D as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process.

Leadership

Environmental Health Effects Laboratory Officer Date(s) of Tenure Title Unit Location CAPT J. Siegel, MSC 1959–1971 Officer in Charge Navy Toxicology Unit, National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, Maryland LCDR T. A. Hill, MSC 1971–1972 LCDR L. J. Jenkins, MSC 1972–1975 CDR L. J. Jenkins, MSC 1975–1980 Toxicology Detachment, Naval Medical Research Institute Wright–Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio LCDR L. L. Pitts, MSC 1980–1982 CAPT D. Uddin, MSC 1982–1987 CAPT D. A. Macys, MSC 1987–1994 CAPT K. R. Still, MSC 1994–1998 CAPT K. R. Still, MSC 1998–2002 Environmental Health Effects Laboratory, Naval Health Research Center CDR W. W. Jederberg, MSC 2002–2004 CDR G. Chapman, MSC 2004–2009 CDR R. Erickson, MSC 2009–2010

Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory Officer Date(s) of Tenure Title Unit Location CAPT Ashton Graybiel, MC 1945–1966 Director of Research Naval School of Aviation Medicine Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida Dr. Ashton Graybiel (after retiring from active duty) 1966–1970 CAPT N. W. Allebach, MC 1970–1974 Officer in Charge Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory CAPT N. W. Allebach, MC 1974–1975 Commanding Officer CAPT Robert E. Mitchell, MC 1975–1980 CAPT W. M. Houk, MC 1980–1985 CAPT J. O. Houghton, MC 1985–1988 CAPT J. A. Brady, MSC 1988–1991 CAPT A. J. Mateczun, MC 1991–1994 CAPT J. C. Patee, MSC 1994–1996 CAPT L. H. Frank, MSC 1996–1998 CAPT C. G. Armstrong, MSC 1998–2000 CAPT M. A. Anderson, MC 2000–2003 CAPT D. M. Murdoch, MSC 2003–2005 CDR D. R. Street, MSC 2005–2008 Officer in Charge CDR R. G. Simmon, MSC 2008–2010

Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton Commanding Officer Date(s) of Tenure CAPT Keith A. Syring, MSC 2010–2012 CAPT C. D. Forcino, MSC 2012–2013 CAPT Jeffrey M. Andrews, MSC 2013–2016 CAPT R. L. Lee, MC 2016–2018 CAPT Matthew W. Hebert, MSC 2018–2019 CAPT Nimfa C. Teneza-Mora, MC 2019–2021 CAPT Walter W. Dalitsch III, MC 2021–present

References

External links Official website