Engineer Research and Developement Lab Fort Belvoir, VA

The Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (ERDL) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was established in 1947 as a primary research and development center for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The ERDL played a critical role during the Cold War, pioneering advances in military engineering, including camouflage, bridging, mobility, and water purification technologies. Notably, the ERDL developed the ERDL woodland camouflage pattern, widely used by U.S. forces in the Vietnam War. In 1962, the laboratory's functions were integrated into the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, later evolving into today’s U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).