Dugway Proving Ground, Utah — Chemical engineering students (Max Larsen, Hayden Copenhafer, and Kenneth Ochoa) from the University of Utah visited Dugway Proving Ground (DPG) in November 2025, as part of their Senior year capstone design project, joining forces with DPG’s Engineering Directorate to advance the next generation of environmental test systems. The student teams are working alongside Dugway engineers to design modernized wind-tunnel concepts and improving interference-introduction capabilities—critical tools for evaluating detection technologies in realistic and controlled environments.
During the onsite visit, students toured multiple testing facilities, met with subject matter experts, and examined legacy systems currently used across Dugway’s environmental and chemical defense testing missions. The experience provided students with direct exposure to Army testing and evaluation and the associated engineering challenges, from airflow modeling and controlled contaminant introduction to data collection, calibration, and sensor performance analysis.
“This collaboration gives students a unique chance to apply classroom theory to the kind of complex engineering problems we manage every day,” said DPG engineers who hosted the visit. “Their innovative thinking supports our mission while helping develop the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
Strengthening an Emerging, Multi-Disciplinary Partnership
What began as an outreach initiative to introduce engineering concepts to students—and showcase future career opportunities within chemical and biological engineering—has now evolved into a broader effort to build a lasting partnership with the University. DPG with support from the West Desert Test Center Test Management Branch is currently in discussions and the University of Utah to establish an Education Partnership Agreement (EPA) that will foster long-term cooperation and collaboration not only in engineering, but also across chemistry, computer science, data science, and medical sciences.
During the visit, Professor Tony Butterfield of the University of Utah Chemical Engineering Department expressed strong, ongoing interest in expanding the collaboration. In meetings with DPG representatives, he emphasized the university’s new multi-disciplinary team structure, which brings together expertise from several scientific and technical fields. This expanded academic capacity aligns closely with Dugway’s broad testing and evaluation mission, opening the door for continued student engagement, joint research efforts, and workforce development opportunities.
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