A group within Air Force Research Laboratory has been recognized for a portable technology that allows users to secure doors during gunfights. The team, consisting of members from AFRL’s 711th Human Performance Wing, is the recipient of a 2019 Defense Innovation Award, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base said Monday.
“We’ve been hard at work to mature this technology so it can transition out of the labs and into the real world where it can hopefully help people and maybe even save lives,” said John McIntire, team lead and research psychologist.
The portable, quickly deployable locks work to fit most common door types without the need for permanent installation, McIntire noted. Security workers at Wright-Patterson AFB have received their own door locks. Schools have also used the technology for tests at active shooter drills.
“We’ve worked closely with a local elementary and middle school as we developed and tested our systems,†the team lead said.
McIntire’s team will physically receive the award at the Defense TechConnect Fall Summit and Expo that will take place Oct. 8 to 10 in National Harbor, Md.
