LETTERMAN ARMY INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH (LAIR)

The Letterman Army Institute of Research (LAIR) was established in 1971 at the Presidio of San Francisco as a successor to the Letterman Army Medical Center’s research division. LAIR was tasked with conducting biomedical research to support the health and readiness of U.S. military personnel, focusing on fields such as trauma medicine, infectious diseases, and combat casualty care. Throughout its history, LAIR contributed significantly to advancements in battlefield medicine, including innovations in wound care and the management of hemorrhagic shock. The institute was deactivated in 1994 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, with many of its programs relocated to other military research facilities.