Chem-bio defense budgets set to increase in coming years.

• Author: Jean, Grace V.
• Position: CHEM-BIO DEFENSE

* The Obama administration has made no secret of its support of chemical and biological defense programs.

The Defense Department in its fiscal 2011 budget requested $1.5 billion for chem-bio defense programs--$370 million for procurement, $812 million for advanced development and $396 million for science and technology.

"That shows continued commitment to these programs," said John Harvey, principal deputy for the assistant to the secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs.

Chem-bio defense programs over the next five years are poised to grow from $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has directed the department to rebalance its capabilities to support six key missions. One of the missions is countering weapons of mass destruction, Harvey noted.

The goal is...