Partnership leverages Oak Ridge National Laboratory capabilities and industry expertise to focus on rapid prototyping and scalable solutions for emerging national security challenges and workforce development
Torch Technologies, one of the nation’s leading defense contractors, and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a collaborative framework to support research, analysis, and technology development related to national security priorities and workforce development.
Under the agreement, the organizations will explore joint efforts that align ORNL’s scientific and research capabilities with Torch Technologies’ experience delivering engineering and technical solutions for the Department of War and other federal customers.
The collaboration is intended to address emerging national security challenges driven by rapid technological advances across advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and sensing technologies. Through this MOU, the organizations will work together to better understand mission requirements, identify research and development opportunities, and determine appropriate paths forward for externally sponsored efforts.
“As national security challenges grow more complex and urgent, collaboration between national laboratories and industry partners is essential,” said Dr. Moe Khaleel, Associate Laboratory Director for National Security Sciences at ORNL. “This partnership enables us to translate the laboratory’s science and technology capabilities — particularly in advanced manufacturing, AI, and autonomy — into real-world solutions at the speed and scale required by DoW’s acquisition priorities.”
In addition to research collaboration, the agreement outlines opportunities to develop an acquisition-ready workforce through experiential learning aligned with mission engineering and rapid delivery principles. Torch Technologies interns may be hosted at ORNL through its National Security Sciences Academy, where they will gain hands-on experience working alongside laboratory researchers while contributing to projects aligned with shared national security priorities.
This partnership enables us to translate the laboratory’s science and technology capabilities — particularly in advanced manufacturing, AI, and autonomy — into real-world solutions at the speed and scale required by DoW’s acquisition priorities
“By combining Torch’s mission-driven engineering expertise with ORNL’s unparalleled scientific resources, we can accelerate innovation that directly supports the nation’s defense and security objectives,” said Brady Porter, Senior Vice President, Torch Technologies. “This partnership will enable us to strengthen mission outcomes while also investing in future technical talent.”
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment prioritizing speed, flexibility, and integrated execution to deliver decisive capabilities for the warfighter.
This story was originally published by Torch Technologies.
About Torch Technologies
Torch Technologies is a 100 percent employee-owned business dedicated to providing superior research, development, and engineering services and solutions to the Department of War. The services we provide directly support the men and women who serve our country. Torch is part of the Starfish Holdings family of businesses that also includes Freedom Real Estate & Capital, LLC, and SIMVANA. To learn more, visit TorchTechnologies.com.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.