Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
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The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (normally known as DERA), was a part of the UK Ministry of Defence until July 2, 2001. At the time it was Britain's largest science and technology organisation. DERA was spilt into two organisations: a commercial firm, QinetiQ, and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
QinetiQ incorporates the majority of DERA, with the DSTL assuming responsibility for the most sensitive of DERA's operations, e.g. nuclear, chemical, and biological research.
DERA was formed in April 1995 as an amalgamation of the following:
- Defence Research Agency (DRA)
- Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO)
- Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE at Porton Down)
- Centre for Defence Analysis (CDA)
The chief executive throughout DERA's existence was John Chisholm. DERA's staffing level was around 9000 scientists, technologists and supoort staff.