In 1946, the Navy Bureau of Ordnance stressed “the need for a rocket intelligence agency with one main responsibility – that of promoting rapid circulation of technical information to all activities concerned.” In response to the Navy’s request, the Rocket Propellant Intelligence Agency (RPIA) was formed, laying the foundations to later evolve into JANNAF. This need has not changed and, in fact, has only grown as the technology has advanced and the industrial base has gone through unprecedented reorganization and change – especially in recent years.

To meet this demand, JANNAF has continuously evolved to aid in the coordination of the DoD and NASA on challenges of joint interest, establishing itself as a nexus for the community and its leadership by connecting solutions with these challenges. For over 75 years, JANNAF has maintained a legacy as a national resource for energetics, explosives, and propulsion, bolstering the United States’ ability to effectively harness advancements in these areas and enabling global leadership in aerospace propulsion and energetics.

Comprised of a diverse group of public and private sector professionals in the fields of propulsion and energetics, JANNAF is a liaison for information sharing, identifying mutual areas of interest and facilitating collaboration between Military Departments, Defense Agencies, NASA, and U.S. industry and academia. With this united, collaborative effort, JANNAF works to:

• establish standards;
• avoid unnecessary duplication of basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, advanced component development and prototypes, and system development and demonstration programs in the areas of missile, gun, and space propulsion and energetics;
• accomplish problem-solving in areas of joint interest; and
• maintain and strengthen the domestic rocket propulsion industrial base.

In order to effectively and efficiently hone in current challenges faced by the aerospace propulsion and energetics communities, JANNAF is composed of two committees: the Technical Committee and the Programmatic & Industrial Base (PIB) Committee.

Technical Committee

The Technical Committee is divided into subcommittees focused on specific technology areas affecting the nation’s interest and investment in propulsion and energetics. These subcommittees provide a collaborative forum to discuss and receive expert opinion on new programs as they develop – a critical need as new private entities seek to provide rocket propulsion systems, fuels/propellants, spacecraft, space launch vehicles, hypersonic capabilities, and other complex and highly specialized systems. The subcommittees also document and archive the results of these technical interchanges, the outcomes of which serve as a multiplier to the government's investment in these systems by ensuring future companies, young professionals, and even experts have access to the collective knowledge gained through experience.

The Technical Committee's subcommittees are as follows:

• Airbreathing Propulsion Subcommittee (APS)
• Combustion Subcommittee (CS)
• Exhaust Plume and Signatures Subcommittee (EPSS)
• Energetic Systems Hazards Subcommittee (ESHS)
• High Temperature Material Applications Subcommittee (HTMAS)
• JANNAF Propulsion Meeting (JPM)
• Liquid Propulsion Subcommittee (LPS)
• Modeling and Simulation Subcommittee (MSS)
• Propellant and Explosives Development and Characterization Subcommittee (PEDCS)
• Safety and Environmental Protection Subcommittee (SEPS)
• Structures and Mechanical Behavior Subcommittee (SMBS)
• Spacecraft Propulsion Subcommittee (SPS)

JANNAF PIB Committee

The JANNAF PIB Committee is a forum for the discussion of strategic program planning and industrial base capabilities in the area of rocket propulsion and energetic systems and components for military and civil space, tactical and strategic missiles, and large gun systems

The introduction of new entrants and new technologies in these areas increases the complexity of the supply chain and creates risk in the industrial base where traditional defense contractors and methods of procurement historically did not. The benefit to the nation of the vibrant competition and rapid technology advancement is unquestionable, however, careful attention must be paid to ensure that critical national needs are met and maintained. The JANNAF PIB Committee fulfills this need with its monitoring and discussion of emerging technologies, entities, and areas of potential concern, and strategic planning to circumvent and respond to these developments.

JANNAF Fellowship

The JANNAF Fellowship recognizes individual achievements in research, development and engineering or technical/organizational program management while a government civilian or military member of JANNAF. The Fellowship recognizes JANNAF community members for exceptional contribution to achieving the goals of the Military Departments, Defense Agencies, and NASA. Military and civilian nominees are jointly considered for the Fellowship without consideration of their branch of service or affiliation.

Meet the JANNAF Fellows (login required)

JANNAF Technical and Administrative Support Contractor

The Johns Hopkins University, Energetics Research Group (ERG) provides technical and administrative support to the JANNAF Interagency Propulsion Committee in the fields of missile, space, and gun propulsion in accordance with the JANNAF Agreement and Charter. ERG assists the JANNAF Executive Committee and its many technical subcommittees and their associate technical panels in the planning, administration, and documentation of their technical and administrative activities and meetings; and in the maintenance of JANNAF manuals and handbooks. For more information or comments contact ERG.