Applied Physics Laboratory

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (or simply Applied Physics Laboratory, or APL) is a not-for-profit <a href="/facts/University_Affiliated_Research_Center/nHEsB84G">university-affiliated research center</a> (UARC) in <a href="/facts/Howard_County%2c_Maryland/h3hKo4XA">Howard County, Maryland</a>. It is affiliated with <a href="/facts/Johns_Hopkins_University/56US0mHw">Johns Hopkins University</a> and employs 8,700 people as of 2024. APL is the nation's largest <a href="/facts/University_Affiliated_Research_Center/nHEsB84G">UARC</a>.
The lab serves as a technical resource for the <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Defense/dWAvf7e3">Department of Defense</a>, <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a>, and other government agencies. APL has developed numerous systems and technologies in the areas of air and missile defense, surface and undersea naval warfare, <a href="/facts/Computer_security/7E5dIy7G">computer security</a>, and space science and spacecraft construction. While APL provides research and engineering services to the government, it is not a traditional <a href="/facts/Defense_contractor/A8mywI9w">defense contractor</a>, as it is a UARC and a division of Johns Hopkins University. APL is a scientific and engineering research and development division, rather than an academic division, of Johns Hopkins.
Hopkins' <a href="/facts/Whiting_School_of_Engineering/bgxN0Syv">Whiting School of Engineering</a> offers part-time graduate programs for Lab staff members through its Engineering for Professionals program. Courses are taught at seven locations in the <a href="/facts/Baltimore-Washington_Metropolitan_Area/EUs75hBy">Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area</a>, including the APL Education Center.

Applied Physics Laboratory open-in-new

Applied Physics Laboratory