Operation Desert Storm: emergence of the need for technical communication

The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and Saddam Hussein´s threat to use chemical weapons accelerated the demands for technical information from the US Army´s Chemical Research, Development and Engineering Center (CRDEC). The technical communicators at the research center became the specialists who quickly produced the details of the US chemical-biological defensive capabilities. Narrowing the distance between the chemical R&D community and decision and policy makers was the key to promoting better communications, countering the misunderstandings and erroneous assumptions, and easing the impact of continual inquiries. Desert Shield, and subsequently Desert Storm, represented turning points in joining technical communicators with the scientists and engineers into a cohesive team, an after effect likely to continue. Top military and civilian managers had the foresight to include technical communicators on the R&D team at CRDEC and the results were strategies that improved quality of communication and succeeded in conveying needed scientific and engineering information. The design and development of communication tools included clear and precise informational materials, innovative briefing and speech materials. and practical and knowledgeable advice on communication matters