Innovation needed for chem-bio gear.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: Protecting soldiers from chemical and biological weapons

While Defense Department officials insist that the chemical-biological protection given to U.S. personnel is the best in the world, there is a lot of room for improvement, they admit.

"It's a difficult science to get your arms around," said Jim Nelson joint project manager for individual protection at the joint program executive office for chemical and biological defense. There are myriad numbers of threats to consider, numerous body types to fit the ensembles on, and dozens of missions performed by soldiers to take into account.

What color and type of camouflage to use can spark intense debate.

The program office is seeking revolutionary solutions to some of the problems that have plagued chem-bio protective gear since the technology was first used in World War I. The military is carrying out its own research, but searching for solutions in the private sector as well.

At the top of the list is low-cost, flame resistant material. The operative word being "low-cost," said Scott Paris, deputy project manager for individual protection for ground forces.

"If you can come up with a low-cost, flame-resistant material, we want to hear from you," he told an industry conference. "You will become rich, and we will become heroes."

Currently, adding flame resistance to a chem-bio protective glove...