The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy are jointly supporting a program to develop Advanced Turbine Systems (ATS). Demonstrations of commercial prototypes will be completed by the year 2000 for both utility- and industrial-scale applications. The program is primarily directed toward natural gas utilization, but eventual application of the technology to coal-fired systems is not overlooked. In major procurements, contractors are required to address (in paper studies though not in testing) the eventual adaptation of their systems to coal firing. Implementation of the program is proceeding well. Phase 1 systems studies have been completed, and Phase 2 concept development has been underway for about a year. Release of solicitation for Phase 3 proposals has been announced for July, 1994. This phase of the program will see teams led by turbine manufacturers move into full scale testing of critical components. Generic research and development has been proceeding in parallel with the major development effort. METC has started testing in their Advanced Turbine Combustion test facility, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory has initiated a materials test program. The industry/university consortium established by the South Carolina Energy Research and Development Center has completed their second round of university awards, with 23 university projects now underway.