DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah – In a dynamic collaboration, Dugway Proving Ground (DPG) partnered with the next generation of American engineers to ensure U.S. Warfighters have the most reliable protective equipment possible. Hosted at DPG, a team of senior chemical engineering students from the University of Utah developed innovative new methods for testing military gear. This project tackled a critical challenge: how to realistically test Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) against the harsh environmental elements soldiers face on the modern battlefield.
Pervasive dust and thick smoke can compromise the effectiveness of mission-essential equipment. To ensure this gear holds up, testing must be rigorous, repeatable, and reflect real-world conditions. The students presented their progress and findings at DPG on March 9, 2026. The student team comprising Hayden Copenhafer, Kenneth Ochoa, Max Larsen, Benjamin Terry, and Cody Keith, and working under the oversight of Dr. John Melnychuk, West Desert Test Center, Test Support Division, and Dr. John McLennan, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah—took on this challenge for their senior capstone project.
Their work focused on designing and creating a sophisticated "Wind Tunnel Interferent Introduction System." This system was engineered to inject precise concentrations of smoke and dust into a controlled wind tunnel environment, allowing for the thorough evaluation of PPE performance and durability. Their work moved beyond theory and into hands-on application. The students designed, built, and refined a prototype apparatus for generating and introducing these particulates. Leveraging their academic training, they analyzed the chemical composition of smoke, tested various high-fidelity sensors to measure particle concentrations, and used advanced computer simulations to model how different types of dust would disperse within the system.
This process of experimentation and data analysis provided Dugway with invaluable insights for developing future full-scale test capabilities. This partnership is a win-win. Students gained unparalleled, real-world experience by tackling complex engineering problems directly relevant to national defense. In turn, ATEC and Dugway benefited from the team's fresh perspectives and dedicated research, advancing the command's core mission to provide our military with a decisive edge. The project is a demonstration of how academic ingenuity can support the Army's modernization priorities and, ultimately, enhance the operational effectiveness and safety of the American Warfighter. Additionally, representatives from the WDTC Chemical Test Division and the DPG Bio Test Division showcased DPG's chemical and biological testing capabilities during the student and faculty site visit.
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