Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Moore Open Maneuver Innovation Lab

Fort Moore’s new Maneuver Innovation Lab empowers Soldiers with resources for tactical innovation

Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, commanding general U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Dr. Patrick Baker, Director of DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Dr. Stuart Rayfield, President of Columbus State University, and Major General (RET) Buford Blount, Executive Chairman of CMI2, cut the ribbon for the Maneuver Innovation Lab, Feb. 7, 2025, at the Maneuver Battle Lab on Fort Moore, Georgia. (U.S. Army photo by Joey Rhodes II)

The Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Moore, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL), the Maneuver Battle Lab (MBL), Columbus State University (CSU), and the Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2) celebrated the grand opening of the Maneuver Innovation Lab (MIL) at the Maneuver Battle Lab on Fort Moore, Georgia on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025.

The first of its kind within a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) unit, the Maneuver Innovation Lab brings together the rapid prototyping capabilities of the collaborative CMI2 Design, Innovation, Research, and Technology (DIRT) Lab, the cutting-edge experimentation of the Uncrewed Systems Experimentation Facility (USEF), and direct access to an academic partner into a single hub of tactical innovation.

The event featured remarks from Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, commanding general of U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Dr. Patrick Baker, Director of DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Dr. Stuart Rayfield, President of Columbus State University, and Mr. Craig Kuphall, CMI2 Pathfinder Deputy Program Manager.

Mr. Craig Kuphall, CMI2 Pathfinder Deputy Program Manager, presents an overview of the DIRT Labs throughout the United States as part of the Maneuver Innovation Lab on Feb. 7, 2025, at the Maneuver Battle Lab on Fort Moore, Georgia. (U.S. Army photo by Joey Rhodes II)

“The Maneuver Innovation Lab at Fort Moore Georgia will empower bottom-up innovation efforts at a hub of warfighting expertise for the US Army,” Kuphall said during his remarks. “Solutions developed here will quickly spread throughout the force and have a wide impact.”

The Maneuver Innovation Lab was initiated nearly eight months ago, in May of 2024, by signing a memorandum of understanding between the Maneuver Center of Excellence and DEVCOM ARL.

Following remarks, attendees enjoyed live demonstrations of cutting-edge drone, robotics, and experimentation projects by CMI2, Experimentation Force (EXFOR), and CSU robotics engineering students.