R&DA:  A Thumbnail History

Research & Development Associates for Military Food & Packaging Systems, Inc. (R&DA) was established to meet the needs of the federal government to ensure that US military forces will always be supported wherever they may be stationed.  This means supporting the fighting forces in camps, posts, and stations as well as whenever they are in "harms way".  Today R&DA is proud of its significant service to the United States.

 During World War II the United States underwent the largest peace to war mobilization in the history of the world.  It was a herculean feat to induct civilians into the services, conduct training, equip and transport the new soldiers to their units and ensure that their needs would be met.  Also, the entire economy of the US had to be modified from a peacetime, consumer based economy to a supporting war economy.

 In the food, equipment and packaging areas the transition to support fighting forces was most difficult. There were no combat rations available; rations had to be developed and prepared by industry and provided in vast quantities.  Military cooks had to be recruited and trained, and new processing equipment had to be purchased , modified and delivered wherever US servicemen were stationed.  It took many months before the details and support were fully operational.  It was not uncommon for soldiers to go hungry; they were not fed away from their base camp; illness caused by poor food preparation was rampant; and nutritional standards were seldom met.  In fact, the United States ability to defeat its enemies was adversely affected by lack of subsistence support.

In 1943 the food program was vastly improving due to the cooperation of civilian companies who dedicated themselves to developing specialized food with military unique packaging.  And, as they say, the rest was history.  The large US logistics tail was one of the major keys to the Allied victory.  All food and related item problems were overcome.  When peace was finally achieved and the country began to return to pre-war conditions, Colonel Rohland A. Isker  became a critical player in the future of military food.  During the war the Army Food and Container Institute was charged with performing the critical research, development and testing of all food products for all military services and the establishment of feeding systems.  This task was accomplished by the former civilians and scientists who were drafted from large food companies and assigned to work under Colonel Isker.  With peace returning, this vast expertise would leave the military and with them would disappear all the technical knowledge in the government's food and packaging areas.  It was clear to those involved that this would have a most damaging effect and could lead once again to the situation faced in 1941.  The risks were too high that the next time we would not be so successful.

 With urging from President Harry S. Truman and the full cooperation of the civilian food and packaging industries, Colonel Isker organized the organization which was to become R&DA.  As is R&DA's mission today, their mission was to link the government with industry and universities in all areas affecting food.  Colonel Isker became the initial Executive Secretary and served as such until 1961.  During this initial part of R&DA's history, Chairmen of the Board included representatives from President Eisenhower's personal staff, Swift and Company, Borden Company, General Foods, American Can and Armour and Company.

In 1963 a consolidation of the food functions occurred in the military with the establishment of the US Army Natick Research, Development, and Engineering Center.  R&DA moved to Natick to continue its patriotic support to the government.   As you can see, the government food establishment and R&DA are always tied closely together as originally intended.  At this same time the association modified its name to "RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES" as it stands today.  

 Colonel Merton Singer became the Executive Director in 1969.  During his tenure the association expanded its focus and membership.  The close association with government agencies flourished, and R&DA members responded to all government needs in the food, packaging and equipment areas.  In 1990 Colonel Singer was selected as Executive Director Emeritus, and an award for industry achievement in the areas of national preparedness was established in his honor.

 Today, as it was in 1946, R&DA is fully dedicated to providing the safest and highest quality  of food service and support to the United States armed forces and government agencies.  R&DA continues to serves as a focal point to foster communications and cooperation relating to research and development, supply and procurement and systems support in food, packaging, foodservice, equipment and related areas.  R&DA links industry, government and academia in its noble mission.  R&DA, through its members, has supported successfully the needs of government in all undertakings to include Korea, Vietnam, humanitarian feeding and Bosnia.  Rations have been vastly improved.  State of the art processes have been accepted and fielded.  Today the US government has the finest feeding support ever witnessed and is the envy of all other nations.  This has been achieved by the members and those affiliated with R&DA.