BRAC & Defense : Innovation + Job News

As BRAC enters its final phase, Maryland officials are looking for ways to ensure that job seekers are prepared to capitalize on the new opportunities that the program has brought to the area. Maryland has been awarded a $7.66 million National Emergency Grant to implement new programs for job seekers affected by BRAC. The state estimates that 6,500 people including Department of Defense civilian employees, contractors, and military spouses have been impacted by the BRAC program.

The grant is designated to fund state programs that help job seekers navigate the Federal employment system, land Federal jobs, and update their skills through training for jobs that have been brought to Maryland through BRAC. Money from the National Emergency Grant will be disbursed to employment programs administered by the Department of Labor Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning. Funding will go to Maryland One Stop Employment Centers in 18 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. The Maryland Workforce Corporation will also be involved, distributing funds to the District of Columbia as part of the grant.

BRAC is expected to create thousands of jobs in Maryland, starting as early as September of this year. The state estimates that BRAC will create 20,000 direct Federal jobs in Maryland. State officials estimate that 40,000 more jobs will be created in Maryland by 2015 through growth from BRAC and related industries.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: The Office of The Lieutenant Governor of Maryland

American Dynamics Flight Systems is working on big things for the military of the future. The  aeronautic technology company has developed both a new Vertical Take-Off and Landing unmanned aircraft and a next generation missile launcher.

The AD-150 unmanned aircraft features High Torque Aerial Lift technology designed to maximize control over the aircraft. It also features a modular mission payload design, to enhance the aircraft's usefulness in carrying different payloads. Company president Wayne Morse points out that the versatility of the payload system design is a a key factor in making the unmanned aircraft useable for a variety of missions.

"A UAV can't be a one trick pony. It needs to be able to carry different cargo and weapons," says Wayne Morse, president of American Dynamics Flight Systems.

American Dynamics Flight Systems is also testing a next generation launcher, the LH-320, designed to work with Predators and other drones. The launcher is intended for use with smaller munitions than the commonly used Hellfire missile, allowing the drones to focus more precisely on targets. Smaller munitions and more precise strikes would mean minimized collateral damage.

A native of New York, Mr. Morse chose Maryland as the home of his firm for several reasons, including proximity to Washington D.C. and the testing facilities available at Aberdeen Proving Ground and The University of Maryland. The AD-150 is being developed for the US Navy Air Systems Command.

"I chose Maryland because I want to be close to my clients. University of Maryland engineering has been a great to work with," says Morse.

American Dynamics Flight Systems will be building these next generation weapons at their production facility in Jessup.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Wayne Morse, American Dynamics Flight Systems

Baltimore tech industry pioneer System Source in Hunt Valley is moving into a post-recession growth phase. The company is expanding operations and hiring new personnel to meet the area's rising demand for remote office management, IT training, and teleconferencing.

"In 30 years, we've lived through four recessions," says System Source President Maury Weinstein. "You have to reinvent yourself."

Opened in 1981, System Source has grown with Baltimore's tech industry. The company's newest focus is on remote managed service for small companies that can't necessarily afford to staff their own full-service IT department. System Source offers clients the opportunity to have a remote IT department that can handle their servers and equipment. The company is also expanding its portfolio of services with updated videoconferencing.

"With the price of gas, video conferencing really makes sense. For a business in Baltimore, driving to see a client nearby might not even be as economical," Weinstein continues.

System Source recently opened its 15th Learning Center classroom in Havre de Grace. The opening of this new facility is directly tied to the training opportunities created by BRAC. As more defense contracting and other BRAC-related jobs open in the area, job seekers and existing employees will need new certifications and applications training.

In response to this expansion of operations, System Source is looking to grow its team. The company is currently looking to fill 5 openings. System Source is looking for tech teachers for the Learning Centers, and sales support staff in the company's home office in Hunt Valley.

"We've seen explosive growth in some technologies," Weinstein says. "We're gearing up for something new."


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: System Source, Chris Riley and Maury Weinstein

The imaging satellites in use today are huge, expensive pieces of technology. One local aerospace firm aims to change that with its design for a smaller, cheaper satellite to provide better on-demand imaging.

Maryland Aerospace's Kestrel Eye satellite is designed to provide imaging on-demand, at a fraction of the cost of a regular satellite. While an average satellite can cost tens of millions of dollars to build, a Kestrel Eye satellite will only cost approximately one million dollars. This means that more of these small satellites can be put into orbit, providing faster and more accurate imagery for users.

"It represents a quantum leap forward in low-cost tech," says Maryland Aerospace President Steven Fujikawa. "You can build 30 of these for the less than the cost of one big satellite."

Maryland Aerospace began working on the Kestrel Eye in 2006, with a sponsorship from the Army. The electro-optical imaging satellite has 1.5 meter ground resolution. Using a PDA or smartphone, individual soldiers could use the imagery provided by a Kestrel Eye satellite to see what's behind the next building or ridge line.

"We originated this concept. The U.S. has big satellites. Because they are so expensive, they really can't provide enough on-demand imagery for both government and the commercial sector," continues Mr. Fujikawa.

The first Kestrel Eye satellite was scheduled to launch in November 2011. Due to cuts to the NASA budget, the launch has been rescheduled. Maryland Aerospace will now be launching its first Kestrel Eye satellite in the fourth quarter of 2012.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: Maryland Aerospace Inc.; Steven Fujikawa, David Park, Don Tatum

A combination of public and private initiatives led to the announcement of thousands of new jobs in the Baltimore area's innovation and technology-based industries in 2010, according to a newly released report. Those jobs will continue to affect Maryland's employment trends in 2011.

Middle River Aircraft Systems, based in Baltimore County, announced 200 new jobs last year, and Ball Aerospace & Technologies in Prince George's County rolled out plans for 300 new positions.

The federal Base Realignment and Closure plan (BRAC) has taken shape to the Baltimore area's benefit also, transferring some 4,380 jobs in the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to Anne Arundel County from Virginia. DISA will join the newly created U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) in Anne Arundel, which is expected to create 1,000 jobs as it ramps up operations.

The 2010 New and Expanding Businesses in Maryland report highlights several companies and state agencies for their contributions to job growth in greater Baltimore and the state and federal incentives like the Maryland Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit that facilitate job creation by employers. Altogether, the report presents an investment scenario based on 2010 announcements where $4 billion in investment will flow into the local employment and services market in the near future.
 
Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Office of Research

The University of Maryland, College Park officially launched the new Maryland Cybersecurity Center (MC2) last week.

MC2 will promote education, research, and technology development in the emerging field of cybersecurity in partnership with government agencies and industry. The new center will adopt a "more than tech," interdisciplinary approach, capitalizing on College Park's close proximity to Washington, D.C. and key government agencies engaged in cybersecurity.

MC2 will bring together experts from engineering and computer science with colleagues from across the College Park campus in fields such as information sciences, business, public policy, social sciences, and economic policy to develop innovative new solutions to cybersecurity.

With the initiative, the university aims to stimulate public-private partnerships and address national vulnerabilities, including those facing industry. The idea is to help "connect the dots" in the region's burgeoning federal and private cyber sector.

"The nation's information systems have outgrown our ability to assure their security, and no one institution or sector can undertake a task of this magnitude alone," says Nariman Farvardin, interim president of the University of Maryland, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "As one of the nation's top research universities, and with our strategic location, we are perfectly positioned to provide the education, expertise and collaboration that will help advance national and regional cybersecurity efforts."

Source: University of Maryland, College Park
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Maryland has been awarded more than $115 million in competitive federal grant funds to extend broadband to rural and underserved communities across the state. The expansion is crucial for increasing Internet access and capacity across the state, helping create jobs, improve public safety, increase educational opportunities, improve health care delivery, and improve infrastructure for BRAC.

The Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT), in partnership with public and private agencies across the state that form the One Maryland Broadband Network (OMBN), won $115,240,581 in grant funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. Funding was provided through the Fed's ongoing stimulus plan, aka American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and this grant is one of the biggest broadband grants awarded to date.

OMBN will use the funds to build more than 1,200 miles of high-speed Internet line, linking together three independent broadband networks and extending affordable and abundant Internet access to more than 1,000 anchor institutions � including 458 schools, 44 libraries, 262 police and emergency centers, 15 community colleges, 6 universities, and 221 other government and community support centers. The new network will connect the state from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, reaching 2 million homes and 443,000 businesses.

The grants are expected to create more than 800 new jobs now and at least an additional 800 jobs in the future. They will provide high-speed access to parts of Maryland that had little or no Internet connectivity. Many connections are too slow to process large amounts of data quickly � a problem when trying to send business records, video conferencing for educational coursework, medical records, and emergency communications.

Source: Office of Governor Martin O'Malley
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Columbia-based LJT & Associates, an engineering services provider, has nabbed a major contract from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The NASA Wallops Flight Facility Range Operations Contract (ROC) covers a five year base period with a total estimated cost-plus-award-fee contract/Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity value of approximately $117 Million.

The firm will provide support services to manage the Wallops Research Range operations and maintenance; training; command, control, and communications information; and computer systems services. Contract support also includes testing, modifying and installing communications and electronic systems at launch facilities; launch control centers and test facilities; and range technology development engineering services. We are proud of our team which includes ITT Industries, CSC, Orbital Sciences, BAH, Airtec Inc, and LKC.

"LJT has supported NASA Wallops for the past 8 years," says Jim Bishop, vice president of Civilian Programs. "We look forward to continuing our support and beginning a new era for the Wallops Range Operations program, and helping NASA advance range technology, range use, and continuing the tradition of the Wallops Range as the "Premier Provider" of Research Range Capability."

Source: LJT & Associates
Writer: Walaika Haskins

ManTech International Corporation, a technical and engineering services firm based in Va.,  broke ground on its newest location at 4696 Millennium Drive in the Water's Edge Corporate Campus in Belcamp, Md., near Aberdeen Proving Ground.

The new facility will accommodate ManTech's growing Maryland workforce. The company currently has more than 700 employees in Maryland supporting a number of federal government and U.S. military organizations. When the building opens in March 2011, the company will occupy 63,000 square feet of the 125,000-square-foot space. ManTech expects to have 300 to 500 technology jobs at the location in the next three years.

Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., with approximately 9,000 employees, ManTech provides innovative technologies and solutions for mission-critical national security programs for the intelligence community; the departments of Defense, State, Homeland Security and Justice; the space community; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and other U.S. federal government customers.

The company's expertise includes systems engineering, systems integration, enterprise architecture, cyber security, information assurance, intelligence operations and analysis support, network and critical infrastructure protection, information operations and information warfare support, information technology, communications integration, global logistics and supply chain management, and service-oriented architectures.

Source: ManTech
Writer: Walaika Haskins 

The University of Maryland College Park has been designated an Intelligence Community "Center of Academic Excellence" by the U.S. government. It is the first higher education institution in the state to be selected for the program, and 1 of only 14 universities participating nationwide.

The program provides funding -- $300,000 dollars annually for up to five years -- to enhance College Park's ability to prepare students for government service and leadership positions in the Intelligence Community.

The designation further aligns Maryland's flagship research university with the state's cyber security strategic plan recently announced today by Governor Martin O'Malley.

As a Center of Academic Excellence, the university will strengthen its curriculum as well as create new educational opportunities and internships in a broad range of areas, from information and cyber security to foreign language acquisition, cross-cultural studies, mathematics, physical sciences and engineering.

The first class affected by the program will begin this month: Intelligence as a National Security Instrument.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence coordinates the Centers of Academic Excellence program, and particularly seeks to encourage minority students to pursue careers in national security professions.

"The growing challenges and expanding mission of the Intelligence Community, plus the 'graying' of the federal workforce adds up to an increased need for government workers with the requisite critical skills, diverse backgrounds and language and cultural capabilities," says professor William Nolte, who directs the program. Nolte formerly served as chancellor of the National Intelligence University System and as a senior Intelligence Community officer.

"For years, the University of Maryland has provided an excellent entr�e into national security service, and with this new funding stream we can build on that," Nolte adds.

The program will be based in the School of Public Policy, but will include participation across campus and from other parts of the University System of Maryland. Its funding will:

Expand course offerings in fields of national security-related interest across most major disciplines;

Develop seminars, visits and other activities to help students learn more about national security professions;

Support additional study abroad opportunities;

Develop a high school outreach program to encourage students to explore careers in the national security professions.

The program will leverage a number of University strengths - the proximity of various federal agencies, existing research partnerships with these agencies, and strong existing educational and research programs related to national security. Some examples:

Information and Cyber Security: Extensive research  in engineering, as well as business management of cyber security resources and public policy issues; Maryland has been designated by the NSA and DHS a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research.

Language Acquisition: Interdisciplinary study of language acquisition and instruction, including the University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language and National Flagship programs in Arabic andPersian.

Behavioral Study of Terrorism: The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) based at Maryland maintains the world's largest and most comprehensive open-source database of terrorist incidents; the University also offers a minor in terrorism studies and a graduate certificate in Terrorism Studies.

Source: University of Maryland College Park
Writer: Walaika Haskins

In a nationwide survey comparing job postings to the number of unemployed, Baltimore earned the No. 3 spot.

According to Indeed.com, an online job hunting site, there's one job for each unemployed person in the city. The survey looked at the top 50 metropolitan areas in the U.S. based on its index of over 50 million jobs posted each year.

Washington, D.C. came in first place with a total of six jobs for every unemployed person, while Jacksonville took the No. 2 slot with employers there offering 3 jobs for each unemployed resident.

Writer: Walaika Haskins
Source: Indeed.com