The United States Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) is a direct reporting unit of the United States Army responsible for developmental testing, independent operational testing, independent evaluations, assessments, and experiments of Army equipment. ATEC provides the Army with an independent assessment of the readiness, effectiveness, and suitability of Army systems and equipment. The command also provides technical support and expertise to other Department of Defense organizations and federal agencies. ATEC is headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and has testing and evaluation centers located throughout the United States. The command's mission is to ensure that the Army's equipment is safe, effective, and reliable.