The Charged Particle Physics Branch performs basic and applied research on topics relevant to Navy and DoD missions with potential spin-offs to the private sector. The Branch is comprised of 10 PhD physicists, two engineers, two technicians, and several part time undergraduate research assistants. The physicists have an average of nearly 15 years of experience in plasma physics, diagnostics, beam physics, high power microwaves, and related areas. Experimental research is performed in labs at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC as well as occasionally at other facilities around the US. Research is centered in two primary areas: applications oriented plasma programs, and studies of the near earth space environment. Current applications programs include the investigation of a new technique to make large area plasmas for materials processing, the study of electrodeless discharge lamps for efficient white light production, and the investigation of the effects of plasma discharges on airplane drag. Space research includes investigations of the coupling of solar energy into the ionosphere and magnetosphere, the generation of dusty plasmas and their effects on the ionosphere, and the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the ionosphere. Additional work in broad instantaneous-bandwidth radar beam steering, the origin and characterization of lightning discharges, spacecraft and aircraft electrostatic charging effects, beam propagation in the atmosphere, applications of hyperspectral imagery to surface analysis, and the development of high velocity electric launchers is performed. The common thread of plasma generation and detailed diagnostics couples the different fields studied within the Branch. Members of the Branch work closely with other groups within the Plasma Physics Division, other Divisions with the NRL and with many other laboratories and universities.