june 2004 review
Redstone Style
Synergy
Achieving Critical Mass on the Federal Campus
initiatives H u n t s v i l l e / M a d i s o n C o u n t y • C h a m b e r o f C o m m erce
june 2004
f eatures cover story
Synergy: Redstone Style Achieving Critical Mass on the Federal Campus
Page 15 Photograph courtesy of Turner Universal Construction
Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama is located in the middle of the southeastern United States, with more than four million people within a 100-mile radius. The Huntsville community is the primary economic hub of the northern Alabama and southern Tennessee region. Huntsville/Madison County’s economy is known as one of the strongest in the South, with low unemployment, strong job growth and income levels leading the region. Business growth and investment from U.S. and international companies have made it one of the country’s top “hot spots” for growing a business and raising a family.
2020 Vision
07
Long Range National Defense
11
Washington Trip ’04
23
All Together Now
27
Homeland Security Post
29
d evelopments Member Developments
13
Economic Indicators
20
Economy At-A-Glance
21
ed i t o r i a l s t a f f
mission
The mission of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville • Madison County is to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth.
contact
Chamber of Commerce Huntsville • Madison County 225 Church Street Huntsville, AL 35801 256.535.2000
on the web www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com
Publisher
Brian Hilson
Executive Editor
Holly McClain
Graphic Designer
Kristi Sherrard
Writers
Holly McClain Mike Ward
Permission to publish any part of Initiatives Review is hereby granted exclusively to any non-profit institution and to any publisher for broadcast or publication to the general public. Credit “Initiatives Review, a Publication of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville • Madison County.”
correction Our apologies to Kuehne & Nagel, Inc. for omitting them from our list of Huntsville/Madison County foreign-affiliated companies in the April issue. Kuehne & Nagel, Inc. is a Swiss-based company providing international forwarding and logistics services. 03 Initiatives June 2004
Chamber of Commerce Huntsville • Madison County
Staff 2004 Brian Hilson, President & CEO Holly McClain, Communications Director Laura Kendrick, Executive Assistant to the President
Economic Development Ethan Hadley, Vice President, Economic Development Steve Finnell, Director, Industrial Development & Existing Industry Rick Davis, Director, Cummings Research Park Lillie Ben, Executive Marketing Assistant Amy Locke, Industrial Development Assistant Garrett Sheehan, Economic Development Assistant
Investor Relations Loren Traylor, Vice President, Investor Relations Pat Jackson, Membership Director Cheryl Schultz, Director, Small Business & Workforce Development Bill Holbrook, Coordinator, Small Business & Workforce Development Debra Dunbar, Launch Program Director Donna McCrary, Investor Relations Assistant Terrie Ledbetter, Membership Representative Beverly Carthen, Membership Representative
Governmental Affairs Mike Ward, Vice President, Governmental Affairs Jay Snyder, BRAC Executive Director Tina Leopold, Program Assistant
Research & Information Services Ken Smith, Director, Research & Information Services Kristi Sherrard, Publications/Graphic Design Specialist Hiroko Sedensky, Research Assistant Judith Short, Information Services Assistant Penny Carothers, Resource Desk Coordinator
Finance & Administration Ken Williams, Finance & Administration Director Desman Holt, Network Administrator Dora Heisey, Financial Assistant Erica Gussie, Financial Assistant Tom Burnette, Building Manager Dallas Brown, IT Co-op Intern
Leadership Sarah Savage, Leadership Director Allison Harbin, Leadership Assistant Mary Stewart, Youth Leadership Coordinator
Small Business Development Center Dr. Bill Killingsworth, Director, SBDC Carrie Davis, Assistant Director, SBDC Brenda McBride, Procurement Counselor Patsy Nayman, Executive Secretary 1 Felita Flores, Secretary 2 Hanson Howard, Executive Director, SCORE
Chamber of Commerce Huntsville • Madison County 225 Church Street Huntsville, Alabama 35801 (256) 535-2000 www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com 04 June 2004 Initiatives
The Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors and Executive Committee 2004
A Message from the President
Executive Committee
Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors and Community Leaders:
Tommy Beason, Chair
It is common knowledge that the federal government – specifically the defense and space industry sectors – represents the principal drivers of the Huntsville regional economy. Those of us who live and work in the Huntsville area know the unique legacy and tremendous economic impact of the federal agencies which stimulate vigorous business activity. The importance of these federal organizations is generally not well understood by people who don’t live or do business in Huntsville. This edition of Initiatives introduces the role of the federal government in Huntsville, including the synergies within and between the defense and space industries, the role and vision of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and Huntsville’s role in advancing Homeland Security. There is also a summary of the Chamber's recent Washington trip – thank you to all 145 participants and a special thanks to the sponsors: Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Port of Huntsville, Sparta, TVA and World Famous Bridge Street.
LTG James Link (Ret.), Chair-Elect Howard Thrailkill, Past Chair Joel Daves, Secretary Gail Wall, Treasurer Brad Jones, Vice Chair Economic Development Joe Ritch, Vice Chair Governmental Affairs Dave Hargrove, Vice Chair Investor Relations Karen Stanley, Vice Chair Small Business Scott Seeley, Vice Chair Research & Information Services Joe Austin, Vice Chair Workforce Development Chairman Mike Gillespie, Chair-Appointed Bill Gurley, Chair-Appointed Mayor Loretta Spencer, Chair-Appointed Irma Tuder, Chair-Appointed Brian Hilson, President/CEO
Elected Board Tommy Beason, Beason & Nalley, Inc. Joe Alexander, Camber Corporation Pete Apple, CSC Joe Austin, Huntsville Hospital Scott Averbuch, Averbuch Realty John Cooper, Avocent Marshall England, State Farm Dick Fountain, Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates Dr. Greg Gum, Radiology Associates Bill Gurley, SAIC Michael Hall, DaimlerChrysler Corporation Richard Holloway, Timberlakes Developers, Inc. Tharon Honeycutt, WHNT-TV Dr. Eric Janssen, SportsMed Donna Lamb, Lamb Commercial Services Millie Marshall, Toyota Motor Manufacturing-AL Jerre Penney, Bill Penney Toyota Joe Ritch, Sirote & Permutt Remigius Shatas, Rymic Systems, Inc. Sandra Steele, Enfinger Development, Inc. Paula Steigerwald, Huntsville Botanical Garden Gerald Toland, Redstone Federal Credit Union Irma Tuder, Analytical Services, Inc. Johnnie Vann, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne Bill Watson, SouthTrust Bank Jean Wessel-Templeton, Wesfam/Burger King Peri Widener, The Boeing Company Keith Wilson, Wyle Laboratories Tom Young, Intergraph Corporation
Through a Chamber-led Base Realignment and Closure effort and numerous defense- and space-related support programs, the Chamber of Commerce recognizes and maintains these key industries as the leading influencers of local economic development. While it has been our community’s philosophy to diversify the local economy by creating less relative dependency on the federal government, it has simultaneously also been a goal of the Chamber to increase the role of our defense and space agencies and the local companies which support them. Both efforts – economic diversity and growing our federal missions – have happened. A major victory for Huntsville in the mid-1990s, for example, was the relocation of the U.S. Army’s Aviation activities from St. Louis to Huntsville – a result of a Base Realignment and Closure process. The ’95 BRAC resulted in the net addition of some 1,600 aviation-related jobs, along with aviation industry employers and new business opportunities for existing contractors. The Chamber views the 2005 round of BRAC and all of our defense- and space-related economic development marketing efforts with cautious optimism, based largely upon our past successes and unique advantages for future growth. The Chamber’s Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative includes a strong focus on the recruitment of new targeted companies and the expansion of existing employers. Our ongoing marketing efforts recognize growth opportunities for special industry sectors, such as space, defense, electronics, telecommunications and others, where Huntsville has existing capabilities. Much of our marketing activity is directed toward business location consultants and others in positions to influence location decisions for new and expanding employers. We are especially excited about the participation of HREGI investors in the Chamber’s direct marketing efforts. Chamber investors and community leaders will participate in marketing activities this summer which focus on location consultants, targeted industry sector corporate executives, and certain foreign-based companies. A high priority of the economic development staff is maintaining contact with our local employers – 120 personal meetings with leaders of local companies are being conducted this year to identify expansion possibilities and other important issues. While marketing our community remains a traditional Chamber priority, preparing Huntsville/Madison County to be promoted is also important. The Chamber has recently joined forces with the Huntsville Committee of 100 and The Arts Council to retain the services of a Memphis-based consultant to develop specific recommendations for attracting and retaining 22 to 34-year-olds, a key component of our future workforce. Also, our image development and promotion efforts through Development Counsellors International, a New York-based firm, should result in favorable national and even international media coverage for Huntsville. A recent ranking by Forbes magazine positions Huntsville as the eighth best community in the U.S. to live and work. Others are saying good things about Huntsville, which is important as we compete for new economic growth and an expanded workforce. It is truly a great time to be in Huntsville/Madison County! The Chamber appreciates your continuing support and involvement in the marketing of Huntsville/Madison County.
Brian Hilson President & CEO Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 05 Initiatives June 2004
2020 Vision NASA’s Marshall Center gearing up to support the Vision for Space Exploration
N
ASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville is working to support key elements of the Vision for Space Exploration, the bold mission of discovery that promises to forever change the landscape of human experience. “This is NASA’s next great endeavor – to return humans to the Moon, and send them onward, to Mars and beyond,” said David King, director of the Marshall Center. “We will expand humanity’s reach into the cosmos, improve life on Earth, and inspire generations of young people to pursue technical careers – the backbone of American economic leadership. The men and women of Marshall have accepted this challenge and are working together with their NASA, industry and academic colleagues nationwide to prepare for the work ahead.” Engineers at Marshall are working on numerous improvements that will return the Shuttle safely to flight, the first phase of the Vision. The Marshall Center oversees work on the Shuttle’s launch propulsion elements, including the Main Engines, External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters. Upgrades include a redesigned bolt catcher for the Solid Rocket Boosters, a complete review of the External Tank’s thermal protection system and installation of cameras to monitor hardware during flight. The Marshall Center also manages crucial aspects of the International Space Station, which will become a vital
resource to prepare human explorers for long-duration space missions. The Center oversees development of Space Station hardware, including distribution hubs for water and power, and the Multipurpose Logistics Modules, used to move equipment and supplies to and from the Station. Marshall’s Space Station Payload Operations Center serves as NASA’s primary Space Station science command post, coordinating all onboard science as well as communications between Earthbound researchers and their orbiting experiments.
Supporting the Exploration Systems Under the leadership of NASA’s newly chartered Office of Exploration Systems, the Marshall Center is aligning programs and people to support missions to the Moon, to Mars and beyond. “Right now, NASA is examining the resources, facilities and capabilities of a vast cross-section of agency programs and projects,” said Mark Fisher, Exploration Office liaison at the Marshall Center. Fisher orchestrates Vision-related planning and implementation activities at the Center, analyzing key assets and helping develop a roadmap for starting Exploration work. The agenda addresses three focus areas: ■ Project Constellation, which includes the proposed Crew Exploration Vehicle to carry astronauts back to the Moon between 2015-2020, as well as future explorationbased space transportation systems;
■ Project Prometheus, which encompasses research into nuclear propulsion systems to power missions such as the proposed Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter, intended to study three of Jupiter's moons – Ganymede, Callisto and Europa – which may harbor vast, life-sustaining oceans beneath their icy surfaces; and ■ Human and Robotic Technologies, incorporating investment and maturation of a range of launch, flight and support technologies and capabilities that will enable and sustain all future space exploration and operations beyond low Earth orbit. Among the Marshall efforts being assessed to support the vision are the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology project, or DART, intended to establish automated space rendezvous and docking capabilities, and the X-37 flight demonstrator, to test future launch technologies in orbit and reentry environments. Projects within the Next Generation Launch Technology program also are under consideration. The program conducted research to reduce risks associated with development of reusable engines and other components of an integrated, reusable space transportation system. Ongoing projects include the Integrated Powerhead Demonstrator, developing engine technologies that could power future launch vehicles, and the Auxiliary Propulsion Project, aiming to deliver an continued on page 09 07 Initiatives June 2004
08 June 2004 Initiatives
2020 Vision . . . continued from page 07
auxiliary engine for vehicle docking, reentry and attitude control while in orbit. Both programs could yield resources and technology milestones applicable to efforts within the new Exploration office – chief among them the Crew Exploration Vehicle, the focal point of Project Constellation, which aims to fly crews to the Moon just over a decade from now. Marshall also offers key research efforts to support Project Prometheus, including development and non-nuclear testing of subscale, high-energy nuclear electric propulsion systems by Marshall’s High Powered Propulsion Systems Office, in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., and Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Meanwhile, the Marshall Center is aligning still other propulsion and space transportation research programs to support Human and Robotic Technologies. Though it will be a few more months before NASA and the Office of Exploration can clearly determine how new and transitional projects will break out across the Agency, Fisher is confident the Marshall Center will continue to play a vital role. “There’s a huge core of capability here,” Fisher said. “This planning period is intended to identify the Marshall resources that will support the Exploration mission – with the same level of commitment and expertise we always deliver.”
What is the Vision? The Vision for Space Exploration is a bold endeavor to answer profound scientific and philosophical questions about the universe and our place in it, to deliver revolutionary technologies and capabilities that will benefit all humanity, and to inspire our nation, our world and generations still to come. First, NASA will safely return the Space Shuttle to flight, in order to complete the International Space Station, which will become the primary research site for studying the effects of long-term space exposure on the human body – prerequisite knowledge for sending crewed missions into the Solar System. NASA will simultaneously develop and test its next-generation flagship, the Crew Exploration Vehicle or “CEV” – and as early as 2015, use it to send humans to the Moon, for the first time in some 30 years. By then, the lunar surface will be a busy place. Beginning in 2008, NASA plans to send a series of robotic missions to the Moon, to gather new information about Earth’s celestial partner and lay the groundwork for the human missions that will follow. By 2020, America will establish a routine presence on the Moon, exploring its resources and developing the surface as a springboard to the rest of the solar system, a “way station” for sending automated missions into space. Launching spacecraft from the Moon – free of Earth’s powerful gravity well – could provide a dramatically cheaper, safer and more routine way to deliver robotic and human explorers to any point in the Solar System. From the Moon, sights are set on Mars, Earth’s nearest planetary neighbor, and the world most like our own. But Mars is just one destination. Others could include the icy moons of Jupiter, which may hide life-sustaining oceans, or asteroids that could reveal secrets about the origins of the universe.
For more information about the Vision for Space Exploration, visit: www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsystem/explore_main.html
More about the Marshall Center The Marshall Center is one of the largest and most diversified NASA installations, a key contributor to many significant programs during the Agency’s 45-plus-year history – from the 1961 flight of the first U.S. astronaut into space, to the Apollo missions that explored the Moon, to development and operation of America’s Space Shuttle fleet, and construction of and scientific discovery aboard the International Space Station. Employing more than 2,700 civil servants and 4,600 on-site contractors, the Marshall Center has an annual budget of more than $2.3 billion. • NASA MSFC 09 Initiatives June 2004
10 June 2004 Initiatives
Long Range Plans for National Defense
E
mployees at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Joint Program Office (JPO), headquartered in Huntsville, are working to provide an initial defensive capability against the type of long-range missiles that could reach our cities and towns from thousands of miles away. “Beginning later this year we will have the capability to defend all 50 United States. This is a dramatic change in our defensive posture,” said MG John W. Holly, program director, GMD. Holly noted, “We have no defense against long-range ballistic missiles for our country today.” GMD is one of the most mature elements of MDA’s overall Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), a layered defensive system that is being developed to counter all ranges of missiles from hostile countries. Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the ballistic missiles that deliver those weapons pose a direct threat to the national security of the country, whether from a government that is hostile to the United States or another rogue group. Before December 17, 2002, GMD’s mission was to build a testing capability, or a test bed, by fall 2004 to support on-going missile defense system development and to be used in an emergency as part of the overall BMDS. According to the original development plan, GMD would continue to improve through a spiral development process and thus provide a mature defensive capability as the system was readied for production.
MDA’s commitment to conducting challenging, realistic missile defense tests did not change, but as America began to transform to meet the challenges posed by new and emerging 21st Century threats, President George W. Bush directed the Department of Defense (DoD) to start fielding an initial missile defense capability in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 to meet the near-term ballistic missile threat to the United States, its deployed forces, and its allies. As a result of the President’s direction to the DoD, GMD JPO is currently executing a mission to defend against long-range ballistic missile attacks. The Program is on track to meet its goals. “Every single day between now and when we deploy this system is a key date with a key event,” Holly said. “We are confident we will put in place the first system capable of defending our nation from a long-range missile attack.” Key events over the summer include emplacing interceptors in silos at Fort Greely, Alaska, continuing to train the soldiers who will operate the system consoles, finalizing hardware and software configurations, inspecting all components of the system, ensuring that the combatant commands understand and know how to operate the system’s capabilities, and developing processes and procedures that define how the system will interact with other systems and the command structure. GMD leverages the expertise of many organizations and facilities on Redstone Arsenal and in the surrounding area. The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) provides GMD with targets for flight tests, executes the
GMD lethality test program, supports GMD’s use of the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll, and provides Army Strategic Command soldiers to operate the system consoles at Fort Greely and Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. The Aviation and Missile Command Research and Development Engineering Center provides GMD with manufacturing and engineering support, quality assurance support, obsolescence analysis, and interoperability support. Additionally, the Aviation and Missile Command provides GMD with professional logistics management. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the construction agent for GMD by providing oversight in concert with local servicing districts – The Corps of Engineers Huntsville Center provides design management. GMD’s payload avionics module and the booster are integrated in the Ground Based Interceptor Assembly Test and Checkout Facility on Redstone Arsenal. The SMDC Test and Evaluation Data Analysis Center has the capability to allow remote flight test monitoring and rapid or real-time transfer of test data. As stated by President Bush, “The new strategic challenges of the 21st Century require us to think differently, but they also require us to act. The deployment of missile defenses is an essential element of our broader efforts to transform our defense and deterrence policies and capabilities to meet the new threats we face. Defending the American people against these threats is my highest priority as commander-in-chief, and the highest priority of my administration.” • GMD Operations Directorate 11 Initiatives June 2004
Member Developments
All Points Logistics, Inc. has recently celebrated their move to their new location and winning the Boeing Company’s Small Disadvantaged Supplier of the Year award. Their Madison office, located at 10452 County Line Road, provides acquisition support services to Boeing on the MDA GMD program and the US Army Future Combat Systems program.
Crestwood Medical Center held a Groundbreaking Ceremony April 1, 2004 for the
Eagle Collision of Madison celebrated the grand opening for their high-tech collision repair facility located at 29943 Highway 72 West across from the Limestone Flea Market. Call 256-325-2114 for more information.
Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio proudly announces the Grand Opening of a new
Physician’s Plaza Medical Office Building located at One Hospital Drive in Huntsville. The twostory, 50,000 sq. ft. facility is scheduled to open in November of 2004. For more information please call 880-4398.
location at 2750 Carl T. Jones Drive in Jones Valley. They offer Free Makeovers, Free 5-Minute Hydrating Facials and Skin Care Analysis. Call 650-5717 or visit their new Studio.
13 Initiatives June 2004
14 June 2004 Initiatives
cover story Phase I of the Von Braun Complex: The Space and Missile Defense Command’s new Redstone Arsenal headquarters
Synergy: Redstone Style
Courtesy of Turner Universal Construction
Achieving Critical Mass on the Federal Campus
A
rrayed on and around the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal’s sprawling 38,000 acres is a unique collection of over 65 federal activities, employing 40,000 civil servant and contractor employees working on more than $18.5 billion in federal programs. The Redstone of today is a tightly interwoven campus of federal activities that operates nothing like the “arsenal” that gave birth to this high tech Mecca more than 50 years ago. Huntsville is the town that rocketry built. A sprawling cotton mill town of about 20,000, Huntsville underwent a metamorphosis following the decision to locate the U.S. Army’s Missile Agency and former German V2 rocket team – led by Dr. Wernher von Braun – to the area. Today, thanks to the federal presence in the area, Huntsville’s metro population of over 330,000 is one of the best educated in the country and enjoys an exceptional standard of living. Home to some of the nation’s foremost space, missile, aviation and defense laboratories and programs, Redstone’s resources comprise one of the greatest brain trusts in the federal government. These combined capabilities offer unique synergies across services and missions, creating effective and efficient solutions to many of the greatest technological challenges facing our nation. Challenges like returning to the moon, intercepting intercontinental and ballistic missiles, and developing our Army’s next generation of aviation and missile systems
are the latest grist for Huntsville’s high technology mills.
Shared Higher Education Resources The superior quality of educational programs and the concentrated research and development performed by local students at university and government labs is fueled by the region’s need to produce top-notch science, mathematics, computer science and engineering graduates to support DoD and NASA programs. Located near Redstone Arsenal is The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). UAH is also part of the second largest research park in the nation – Cummings Research Park (CRP). A few miles to the north of CRP is Alabama A&M University, one of ten historically black research universities in the nation. UAH and Alabama A&M have become two of the South’s outstanding providers of science and technology-related research. These strengths are complemented by excellent undergraduate programs in business, education, liberal arts, and nursing. Approximately 14,000 students are enrolled at these two public institutions. With their combined research activity of more than $55 million annually, the region leads Alabama in engineering and physical and information science research. Both UAH and Alabama A&M have extensive partnerships with governmental agencies, including the U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), the Army’s Space Missile and Defense Command (SMDC), and
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Areas of support to the Army include logistics/supply chain management, continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, modeling and simulation, visualization, and reverse engineering. Many of the university research centers were specifically developed to support the needs of their government partners. Specific centers supporting activities of both the U.S. Army and NASA include: ■ Information Technology and Systems Center ■ Rotorcraft Systems Engineering and
Simulation Center ■ Systems Management and Production
Center (SMAP) ■ Propulsion Research Center ■ Research Institute ■ Aerophysics Research Center ■ Center for Applied Optics ■ Center for Automation and Robotics ■ Center for Materials Research ■ Center for Space Plasma and
Aeronomic Research ■ Consortium for Materials Development
in Space ■ Earth Systems Science Center ■ Materials and Surface Sciences Laboratory
for fiber-optic technology applications ■ Flight simulation software
development center
Additionally, the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) conducts research at its core facility located on the campus of UAH. NSSTC blends the talents and capabilities of NASA researchers, students and faculty to continued on page 16 15 Initiatives June 2004
Synergy: Redstone Style . . . continued from page 15
develop new technologies that can be used by the space agency, as well as can be transferred to the defense sector.
Sharing a Well-Educated Workforce Huntsville has racked up a number of impressive rankings including recognition by the Milken Institute as the highest ranking community in the nation for concentration of engineering services workers. Approximately one in ten employees in the Huntsville community is an engineer. Huntsville also ranked third in the U.S. in concentration of missile and space vehicle workers. According to 2000 census data, 37.8% of residents ages 25 years and older in the Huntsville urban area have earned a 4-year college degree, ranking twenty-first nationally and third in the South. There are 1.2 million people living in a 50-mile commuting distance with a corresponding labor pool of 600,370 workers. The NASDAQ/American Electronics Association ranked Huntsville as having the highest percentage of hightech workers in the Southeast.
Cummings Research Park – Support for the Federal Customer Cummings Research Park is one of the leading science and technology parks in the world. Beginning as a visionary, public-private partnership, CRP has been firmly established for over 40 years and is now the fourth largest research park in the world. CRP is home to a uniquely focused alliance of business, government and academic research initiatives. With more than 220 companies – including 17 FORTUNE 500 companies – active in over 40 separate technology fields, CRP attracts a vibrant and distinguished concentration of research and development activity. More than 22,000 people work in CRP.
Synergy with Common NASA, Military Technologies, Facilities Tremendous synergies exist in the common technical missions of the 16 June 2004 Initiatives
various federal activities on the Redstone campus. These complementary areas of endeavor stretch across agencies and fortify the work that each function is asked to deliver for the nation. Common core technologies include propulsion and propellants, information technology and high speed computing, telemetry & high speed data transfer, aviation and avionics, batteries and power supply, laser technology, software engineering, design and development, sensors, multi-spectral imaging, guidance and control, modeling and simulation, nano/MEMS technology, composite materials development, rapid prototyping, and a variety of test ranges and capabilities that measure the durability of hardware in a wide range of climatic, stress, thermal, vacuum, vibration, electromagnetic, and acoustic environments. Common missions have resulted in a number of specialized facilities to service multiple local customers. Facilities like Redstone’s lightning test and propulsion test range serve NASA, Army and other defense requirements. NASA and Army prototype and integration facilities cooperatively use rapid prototyping capabilities. These labs provide a tremendous menu of equipment to develop precise models to validate designs before production. These capabilities are leveraged on an as-needed basis to keep infrastructure costs to a minimum. A similar strength is found in the Army’s Microfabrication Facility and equipment. This unique facility has been built up over a number of years by both the Army and NASA. Although the facility is located within the Army’s Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), much of the equipment was purchased by NASA. A joint effort is ongoing between the federal entities to
Engine tests at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
The Javelin is a man-portable, antitank system developed for the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. Redstone personnel provide testing and test support for a variety of missile programs, including JAVELIN.
Laboratory photographs courtesy of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Laboratory photographs courtesy of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Engine tests at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
JOINT PROJECTS
Scientists at Marshall Space Flight Center have been studying the insulation properties of a number of substances, including Aerogel – the lightest solid known to man.
Many of the resident organizations at Redstone use virtual reality to provide cost effective methods to design and evaluate components and systems.
use rapid prototyping techniques to produce water-soluble core for the manufacturing of composite structures. Rapid prototyping techniques will advance the current state-of-the-art by reducing the fabrication process to a one-step production directly from an electronic file. NASA and the Army have been working together for more than eight years conducting joint Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and GPS antenna testing and analysis. Conducting GPS receiver testing locally results in tremendous cost savings for the Army. Precise calibration of equipment is critical to NASA and Army activities located on Redstone and these capabilities at Redstone are shared across federal operations. Likewise, overflow electromagnetic interference testing is important to both DoD and civil space agencies.
NASA and the Army combined resources to establish the Virtual Innovation Laboratory (ANVIL), which takes advantage of common interests in virtual reality technologies and applications. NASA and DoD also jointly support the Redstone Scientific Information Center (RSIC), housing the world’s finest collection of propulsionrelated papers and an excellent collection of scientific and technical works. Other joint DoD and NASA operations include the Joint Diffractive/Micro-Optics Laboratory and Propulsion Research Labs.
Propulsion Rocket propulsion system development is the cornerstone upon which Redstone was built. Since 1950, Redstone propulsion scientists and engineers have led the world in rocket motor development. As the home of the Army’s missile programs and NASA’s
primary propulsion center, there are extensive shared propulsion capabilities and resources located on Redstone. Common activities include propellants analysis for solid, liquid and gel propulsion. NASA and Army engineers have recently worked together to design and conduct an experimental test program to develop the theoretical, analytical, test methodology, and structural characterization engineering database for solid rocket motors and polymer materials. Army engineers designed, developed and analyzed technology to verify in the space shuttle solid rocket motor design. The Army and NASA MSFC have for many years shared technology related to rocket exhaust plume flowfields, radiation, and plume effects on missile systems. This collaboration has advanced understanding and stateof-the-art in plume effect modeling for both organizations.
IT and Computing Supporting the intense computational and data management needs of the federal sector are more than 40 “super computers” in the Huntsville/ Redstone area. In order to meet mission needs, systems must be sized to reflect peak utilization requirements. This sharing of resources provides needed computational hours by taking advantage of the non-peak times of system usage, therefore containing costs to the government. One recent example, SMDC computational capability was used significantly (160,000+ CPUhours) during the investigation into the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. The need for large data sets, video, real-time interaction, distributed computation, and the time-bounded transfer of data and analyses demand high-performance network access provided by Redstone activities and the surrounding community.
Materials Aviation, missile and space hardware developers share common interests in continued on page 19 17 Initiatives June 2004
Synergy: Redstone Style . . . continued from page 17
ultra-light weight, super-strong materials. Redstone scientists are engaged in a number of cooperative ventures to study thermal protection material technology including thermal protection material attachment concepts, seal technology, and in-depth thermal response or reusable and single-use heatshields. The centers also have collaborated in the development of low-cost, high performance tooling technology for filament wound composite motorcases and pressure vessels. AMRDEC utilized foam tooling developed at MSFC for fabrication of composite motorcases. AMRDEC and MSFC routinely share data on the development of new processes and constituent composite materials and have, from time-to-time, shared laboratory facilities. Cooperation with NASA is key to the Army’s technical success.
Nanotechnology. Development of MEMS/Nanotechnology has important potential in applications for both Army research and development and NASA in areas such as low volume guidance instrumentation and health monitoring of solid rocket motor propulsion systems. This collaboration is very beneficial to the Army because of the significant expertise and leverage provided by the NASA team. MEMs technology also has potential for the development of an integrated microfluidic system for lab-on-a-chip chemical detection suitable for both military and space applications and for development of a MEMS linear motor actuator in silicon for application in micro devices such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
high fidelity simulations are used to test performance of flight hardware and software systems. Simulators are also extensively used as training tools. In a recent example of synergy in simulations, Army engineers supported a feasibility study conducted by the NASA X37 Program Office to investigate the unshrouded launch of the X37 airframe on a Delta II rocket. Army engineers supported this effort by reviewing wind tunnel test and aerodynamic model development plans of the prime contractor during contract negotiations and by developing a detailed mathematical model of the configuration being investigated. This cooperative effort illustrates the direct advantage of collocation of NASA MSFC and Army AMRDEC.
Environmental Issues
Imagery/Radar/Sensors
Army and NASA efforts have been combined on several occasions to work on environmentally acceptable, alternative technologies for coatings, cleaners, and propellants. AMRDEC supports the Shuttle Environmental Assurance Initiative (SEA) which includes the exploration of environmentally sound technologies. NASA has also collaborated with the AMRDEC on the assessment of new environmental regulations and systematically participates in stakeholder groups to share ideas to mitigate the impacts of these regulations.
Critical Mass – Sustaining the Synergy
The Army and NASA jointly developed a wake vortex radar which provides a real-time map of aircraft wingtip induced vortices and that works in adverse environments (namely fog). The radar design utilized hardware that was developed for the rapid cuing radar fabricated under the Army more than 10 years ago. Recently, there has been a critical need to test components of the ceramic body armor used by soldiers. The ceramic plates presently worn by soldiers can be damaged without any visible signs of failure. NASA’s Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE) labs and Materials and Processes labs are working jointly with the Army to provide a test for the protective body armor inserts. Research is underway to determine the best procedures to test the numerous body armor plates in the field. Using X-ray and ultrasonics, NASA is identifying and evaluating different methods of scanning the protective ceramic body plates.
Nano/MEMS Technology The AMRDEC and MSFC collaborate on the development of MicroElectromechanical Systems (MEMS) and
Modeling and Simulations Redstone possesses unmatched modeling and simulation capabilities. Extremely
By working together, the agencies sharing the Redstone federal campus are creating more than the sum of parts. Instead, these agencies and organizations are exponentially increasing the viability and value of Redstone’s programs to better serve, and serve more of America’s needs in military, space, homeland security, law enforcement, environmental and technology transfer applications. While the U.S. Army may be the “big man on campus,” each resident agency raises the level of expertise and capability enabling Redstone and Huntsville/ Madison County to address new challenges and generate new opportunities. • Mike Ward
Other Common Areas of Support ■ Federal Bureau of Investigation • Hazardous devices training • Computer forensics technologies • Other law enforcement sensitive areas ■ Environmental Protection Agency • Tier II Environmental Partnership (all federal facilities in Alabama) • Principal center for Clean Air Act • Provide access to research partnership centers ■ The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration • Developing new techniques to use NASA satellite data to improve weather forecasting 19 Initiatives June 2004
Economic Indicators POPULA TION
Madison County
City of Huntsville
City of Madison
Huntsville Metro Area
35-Mile Radius
1980 Census ........................................196,966
145,604
6,081
242,971
439,023
1990 Census ........................................238,912
161,842
16,813
293,047
505,967
EMPLOYMEN T* MAR 2004
MAR 2003
Total Non-ag Employment .......................................................... 190,000
187,800
Huntsville Metro Area**
Mining & Construction .................................................................... 7,900
6,900
Manufacturing .............................................................................. 29,900
31,600
2000 Census ........................................276,700
158,216
29,329
342,376
581,506
2003 Estimate ......................................287,117
159,636
*34,260
355,488
598,007
2008 Projection ....................................302,734
164,335
*39,729
375,964
626,450
Trade, Transportation & Utilities .................................................... 30,100
29,300
% Growth 1980-2003 ............................45.8%
9.6%
463.4%
46.3%
36.2%
Information ...................................................................................... 2,200
2,400
Households 1980 Census ..........................................67,082
51,113
2,040
82,440
150,864
1990 Census ..........................................91,208 2000 Census ........................................109,955
63,838
6,681
110,893
191,654
66,742
11,143
134,643
229,284
Financial Activity ............................................................................ 5,800
5,800
Professional & Business Services ................................................ 36,700
35,900
Education & Health Services ........................................................ 12,400
12,300
Leisure & Hospitality...................................................................... 15,700
14,900
2003 Estimate ......................................114,811
68,070
*13,175
140,703
237,445
2008 Projection ....................................123,387
71,672
*17,083
151,677
253,191
Other Services ................................................................................ 7,500
7,200
% Growth 1980-2003 ............................71.2%
33.2%
545.8%
70.7%
57.4%
Government .................................................................................. 41,800
41,500
2003 Population Estimate ....................281,117
159,636
*34,260
355,488
598,007
White ......................................................70.8%
63.3%
77.8%
73.2%
79.5%
Black ......................................................23.7%
31.0%
14.8%
21.7%
16.0%
Asian & Pacific Islander ............................2.0%
2.3%
3.7%
1.7%
1.2%
Huntsville Region (Counties)
MAR 2004
MAR 2003
Other Races..............................................3.6%
3.4%
3.8%
3.5%
3.4%
Madison ......................................................................................153,470
149,040
Limestone...................................................................................... 33,060
32,500
* Based on place of employment. **Includes Madison & Limestone counties Source: Alabama Department of Industrial Relations (Place of work figures)
Race
Income & Age
LABOR FORCE *
Average Household Income ................$63,021
$61,025
$77,962
$60,858
$56,892
Jackson ........................................................................................ 25,280
25,100
Median Household Income ..................$48,301
$48,324
$66,509
$46,754
$45,052
Marshall ........................................................................................ 38,410
38,750
Per Capita Income ..............................$25,450
$26,384
$29,896
$24,362
$22,809
Morgan .......................................................................................... 55,560
54,570
Median Age ................................................36.5
38.3
34.9
36.6
37.7
Franklin, TN .................................................................................. 20,950
20,230
Source: ESRI Business Information Solutions, 2003; U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov) * City of Madison estimate comes from City of Madison
Giles, TN........................................................................................ 15,420
15,780
Lincoln, TN .................................................................................... 15,500
15,650
Huntsville Regional Total ........................................................ 357,650
351,620
* Based on place of residence. Source: Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, Tennessee Department of Employment Security
RETAIL SALES Huntsville Region - (000’s) 2002 Annual Retail Sales
Total Retail Sales
Food & Restaurants
Furniture & Merchandise
Automotive
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE*
MAR 2004
MAR 2003
$3,910,205
$736,594
$908,076
$978,414
Huntsville Metropolitan Area............................................................ 4.7%
4.3%
Limestone Co.
$619,484
$141,111
$131,142
$132,976
Madison County .............................................................................. 4.5%
3.9%
Jackson Co.
$468,707
$117,990
$102,509
$89,452
Huntsville Region ............................................................................ 5.5%
5.0%
Marshall Co.
$1,242,376
$164,795
$229,099
$579,074
Alabama .......................................................................................... 5.9%
5.7%
Morgan Co.
$1,448,374
$287,895
$258,605
$419,366
United States .................................................................................. 5.7%
5.8%
Lawrence Co.
$245,369
$58,321
$38,133
$32,547
Giles Co. (TN)
$278,739
$56,429
$32,025
$84,589
Lincoln Co. (TN)
$300,730
$50,192
$65,715
$94,805
Franklin Co. (TN)
$311,996
$102,760
$60,773
$54,711
$8,825,980
$1,716,087
$1,826,077
$2,465,934
Madison Co.
Regional Total
* Based on place of residence. Source: Alabama Department of Industrial Relations (www.dir.state.al.us) Tennessee Department of Employment Security (www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd)
COST OF LIVING INDEX 4th QTR 2003
Composite Grocery Index Items
Housing
Utilities
TransHealth portation Care
Goods & Services
Source: Sales & Marketing Management, 2003 Survey of Buying Power — Printed with permission.
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
MAR 2004
MAR 2003
# of Projects
Square Feet
$ Value
# of Projects
Square Feet
$ Value
Total Const. Contracts ...................... 178
603,000
$54,295,000
170
464,000
$28,930,000
(cumulative to date)
Commercial .......................................... 8
21,000
$2,653,000
8
19,000
$3,852,000
Manufacturing ...................................... 0
0
$0
2
4,000
$202,000
Single Family .................................... 148
316,000
$13,041,000
131
280,000
$10,906,000
Multi-Family .......................................... 0
0
$0
17
43,000
$1,836,000
Atlanta, GA
97.6
103.3
91.8
90.3
99.0
106.3
100.9
Dallas, TX
96.8
90.6
91.3
94.0
100.5
99.4
103.6
Huntsville, AL
91.8
100.4
74.1
93.4
103.3
87.0
100.4
Orlando, FL
97.2
97.9
91.9
97.3
95.5
94.8
102.3
St. Louis, MO
101.3
105.5
99.1
90.9
97.8
96.7
106.2
Washington, D.C.
138.8
111.2
206.8
104.4
120.6
124.9
108.4
Source: American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association. (www.accra.org)
Source: F.W. Dodge — Printed with permission.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
MAR 2004
MAR 2003
% Change 03-04
Index
United States...............................................................187.4
1.7%
184.2
3.0%
South Region...............................................................180.1
1.5%
177.5
3.1%
Index All Urban Consumers
% Change 02-03
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Atlanta, GA., December 1982=100 base. (http://stats.bls.gov/cpihome.htm)
20 June 2004 Initiatives
HOME SALES APR 2004
APR 2003
Houses on Market.............................................................................. 4,265
3,458
Houses Sold & Closed.......................................................................... 731
648
Avg. Selling Price.......................................................................... $130,544
$127,214
Avg. Days on Market..............................................................................119
120
Median Sales Price........................................................................$104,000
$110,000
Source: Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS (Realtor-listed properties only)
Economy At-A-Glance Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama, is located in the middle of the southeastern United States with more than four million people within a 100-mile radius. The Huntsville community serves as the primary economic hub of the north Alabama and southern Tennessee regions. The counties adjoining Madison County combine to form an eight-county regional market with a population totaling 700,000 people.
LEADING EMPLOYERS U.S. Army/Redstone Arsenal . . . . . . . . . . .11,141 Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,355 Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,000 The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,800 CINRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,800 NASA Marshall Space Flight Center . . . . . .2,754 Siemens VDO Automotive Corp. . . . . . . . . .2,300 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,186 Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,936 Intergraph Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,750 ADTRAN, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,700
The Huntsville/Madison County economy is known as one of the strongest economies in the South, with low unemployment, strong job growth and income levels leading the region. Business growth and investment from U.S. and international companies have made Huntsville/Madison County one of the country’s top “hot spots” for growing a business and raising a family.
Aerospace Huntsville/Madison County is home to the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and has representation from nearly every major U.S. aerospace corporation, with more than 90 companies employing more than 11,000 people in the local aerospace industry.
Sanmina-SCI
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,700
Walmart/Sam’s Stores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,581 Northrop Grumman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,350 Teledyne Brown Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . .1,338 Lockheed Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,250 Computer Sciences Corporation . . . . . . . . .1,200 University of Alabama in Huntsville . . . . . . .1,112 West Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,100 SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,080 Madison County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,073 Benchmark Electronics, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 921 Alabama A&M University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 890 Jacobs Sverdrup Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800 Target Distribution Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 750 Crestwood Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 668 Madison City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 644 Engelhard Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600 Dynetics, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600 Redstone Federal Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . 575 PPG Industries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 550 CAS, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 502 Source: Chamber of Commerce
Defense Huntsville/Madison County plays a key role in the U.S. Army’s technology development programs. More than half of the Army’s weapons procurement budget is managed by Huntsville-based operations as are more than half of the Army’s foreign weapons sales. More than 25,000 people are directly employed by the military and support contracts. Electronics More than 300 international and domestic corporations in Huntsville/Madison County are involved in the design and production of electronics and computerrelated technology, including CINRAM, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of DVD products. Research & Technology Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park is the country’s second largest research and technology park, containing 220+ companies employing 22,000 people involved in technology research and development. Manufacturing Huntsville/Madison County’s manufacturing industry represents a diverse mix of technology assembly and production operations from both domestic and international corporations, comprising one-fourth of the local employment base.
21 Initiatives June 2004
22 August 2003 Initiatives
Washington Trip ’04 Community leaders talk federal agenda “The strength of our advocacy efforts is directly reflected by the participation of our Chamber members traveling with us to Washington, D.C. and helping us throughout the process,” remarked Mike Ward, vice president of governmental affairs for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County. Ward was commenting upon the recent trip by the Huntsville/ Madison County and Decatur/Morgan County Chambers of Commerce. “Our Chamber delegation has historically been among the largest Chamber groups to lobby in our nation’s Capitol: 2004 was no exception,” said Ward. Ward’s division is chiefly responsible for arranging the Washington, D.C. trip each year. The 2004 trip, taken in May, included 145 delegates. Staffs from both the Chambers of Commerce and the Congressional offices exert tremendous effort to organize the Washington, D.C. excursion. Highlighting the trip were appointments with key Congressional leaders arranged by Alabama U.S. Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, and U.S. Representatives Bud Cramer and Robert Aderholt. Meetings included individual sessions with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, VA HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Kit Bond, Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Mitch McConnell. Representative Roy Blunt – House Majority Whip; Representative Jane Harman Ranking Member, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Representative Bart Gordon,
who serves on both the Energy & Commerce, and Science Committees, addressed the Chamber groups, as well. A luncheon featured a presentation by Dr. John Marburger, the President’s senior science policy advisor and head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Dr. Marburger reaffirmed President Bush’s support for the Space Exploration Initiative. Throughout the three-day trip, conversations were animated and audiences attentive. Some consistent messages were especially loud and clear. “What do you have going for you? [in North Alabama] You have brainpower,” was one such message. Continued increases in research and development funds for science and technology was another such message. Congressman Cramer was quick to voice his pleasure at seeing the combined counties and their representatives. “We must think regionally for economic development.” Both the Decatur and Huntsville groups provided a federal agenda to legislators identifying key issues of concern for local businesses with the aim to promote development, growth, sustainability and profitability. This agenda included military and homeland security topics – particularly in relationship to BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) issues that affect the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal; energy and highway infrastructure, including the Memphis through Huntsville to Atlanta Highway and other enhancements/additions; the President’s vision for space exploration, particularly relating to NASA Marshall Space Flight
Center; and a number of other issues impacting economic growth and quality of life. (A copy can be obtained by calling either Chamber.) Many notable comments were made, but among them, Senator Shelby offered, “I personally believe Huntsville, at the end of the day, will benefit from BRAC, but we don’t know. You must be vigilant.” In addition to showing strength through sheer numbers – numbers very favorably impacted by the local elected officials who participated – the yearly trip provided numerous opportunities for separate, break-out meetings and/or business-specific meetings through scheduled “time-on-your-own.” Social opportunities also provided networking opportunities between Chamber members. Other speakers included: LTG Larry Dodgen, Commanding General, U.S. ARMY Space & Missile Defense Command; Garry Lyles, Division Director NASA Project Constellation; Karen Elzey, Program Officer, Center for Workforce Preparation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Bill Baxter, Board of Directors, Tennessee Valley Authority; Philip Grone, Principal Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, DOD Installations & Environments; Rick Peltz, Alternate Federal Co-Chair, Appalachian Regional Commission; Paul Doerrer, Staff Director, Senate Sub-Committee on Transportation, Treasury & General Government; and MG John Stevens, U.S. ARMY Materiel Command, reporting to Deputy Commanding General. Continued on page 25 23 Initiatives August 2003
24 June 2004 Initiatives
Washington Trip ’04 . . . continued from page 23
Washington, D.C. Trip 2004 Sponsors Northrop Grumman The Boeing Company Tennessee Valley Authority
Sparta, Inc. Port of Huntsville World Famous Bridge Street
Registered Companies/Organizations Advanced Federal Services Corporation Alabama A&M University Alabama State Board of Education Alabama State Dept. of Homeland Security AmSouth Bank Analytical Services AZ Technology Balch & Bingham LLP Beason & Nalley, Inc. Bradley Arant Rose & White C.G. Technologies Calhoun Community College CAS, Inc. Cimarron Cirrus Technology/Madison IDB City of Decatur City of Hartselle City of Huntsville City of Madison Compass Bank Continental Airlines Crestwood Medical Center Davidson Technologies Decatur General Foundation Decatur Transit, Inc. Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau DESE Research, Inc. East West Enterprises, Inc. Enabling Technologies Enfinger Development Evans Watts & Schrimsher First American Bank Fowler, Harris & Glover Goodrum Knowles, Inc. Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce Hartselle Utilities Hexcel Corporation Horton Auction Co. Huntsville Botanical Garden Huntsville City Council Huntsville Hospital Huntsville Utilities Huntsville/Madison Co. Chamber of Commerce
Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne Madison Co. Commission Main Street Strategies Managing People & Change, Inc. Marshall Space Flight Center Miltec Corporation Morgan Co. Commission Morgan County EDA Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. National Children’s Advocacy Center Navigator Development Group, Inc. Northrop Grumman Corporation NOVA Chemicals Inc. Oologah Technologies, Inc. (OTI) Perkins Technical Services, Inc. Port of Huntsville Public FA, Inc. Qualis Corporation Radiology of Huntsville Raytheon SAIC Sirote & Permutt, P.C. Southwest Research Institute Sparta, Inc. Stanley Construction Techni-Core Engineering, Inc. Teledyne Brown Engineering Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Valley Training The Arc of Madison Co. The Boeing Company The Huntsville Times Thompson Tractor Company Town of Eva Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Tutarus UAH United Way University of AlabamaHuntsville U.S. Army AMCOM Wilmer & Lee 25 Initiatives June 2004
26 June 2004 Initiatives
All Together Now Joint Common Missile promotes U.S. military might
A
contract award in May for the Joint Common Missile (JCM) weapon program produced a collective cheer from the U.S. military. The Joint Common Missile program, managed by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) at Redstone Arsenal, awarded a $53 million System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract to Lockheed Martin. Led by the Army, development of the JCM weapon system is conducted as a joint program with the Department of the Navy, and a cooperative program with the United Kingdom. “This is a highly significant award,” said Col. Jody Maxwell, JCM project manager at the Army’s Redstone Arsenal. JCM aims to provide America’s and her allies’ warfighters with commonality, interoperability, increased survivability and lower total lifecycle costs when compared to current systems. Maxwell noted the contract program is planned to last as long as fourteen years and eventually be worth over $5 billion. "This has been a super effort and a long path," said Maxwell. "Everybody has put a lot of time and effort into this team effort; two thumbs up to everybody who has had a part in this." The JCM represents the next generation of an extended range, advanced technology, air-to-surface, multiplesensor missile system for deployment on rotary-wing and fixed-wing platforms.
Lockheed Martin spokesperson Jennifer Allen noted several operational advantages that will enhance survivability, “But the greatest advantage is the operational flexibility, provided by the tri-mode seeker. Working together, the imaging infrared, semi-active laser and millimeter wave radar sensors can operate day, night and in adverse weather and battlefield obscurants; can defeat almost all threat countermeasures; and provide both ‘fireand-forget’ engagement that brings our troops home and precision-strike capability that minimizes collateral damage.” Dan O’Boyle, a public affairs spokesperson for the Army’s Redstone Arsenal, said the first Joint Common Missile is to be operational in fiscal 2009. The Army and Navy plan to buy as many as 55,000 of the JCM. The missile will replace the Hellfire, Maverick and Longbow air-toground missiles currently in the U.S. arsenal. The system design and development contract includes a 14-month "risk reduction" phase and a 36-month testing and integration phase to ready the missile for production. The design and development work will take place at Lockheed's Missiles and Fire Control business unit in Orlando, Florida. The missiles will be produced at the company's manufacturing facility in Troy, Alabama. According to Jennifer Allen, the Lockheed Martin team includes more than
a dozen major suppliers located across the United States and in the United Kingdom. “Our motor is provided by Aerojet in Sacramento, California, and the propellant is from Roxel, located in the United Kingdom. The warhead is produced by General Dynamics in Florida, the firing module is produced by Perkin Elmer in Ohio, and our control actuator section is furnished by Moog, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Lockheed Martin integrates the sensors and guidance package, because we are the only contractor who has actually fielded missile sensors in all three modes.” Allen went on to say that Remec in San Diego, California, is on the millimeter wave seeker, and EMS in Atlanta, Georgia, handles the RF electronics and the antenna. CMC Electronics in Cincinnati, Ohio, produces the focal plane array for the imaging infrared seeker. Honeywell in Minneapolis, Minnesota, produces the inertial measurement unit. Mercury Computers in Massachusetts produces the signal processing electronics. EDO in Pennsylvania brings fixed-wing launcher expertise to help achieve a low-risk integration of JCM onto the fixed-wing platform. The spokesperson concluded with, “Lockheed Martin already produces the M299 launcher that will carry JCM on all of the required rotary-wing platforms, with Marvin Engineering in California building the structure and Lockheed Martin supplying the launcher electronics and software.” 27 Initiatives June 2004
28 June 2004 Initiatives
Huntsville Technologist Named to Alabama Homeland Security Post
D
r. Glenn Priddy has been named assistant director, science and technology, for the Alabama Department of Homeland Security. Priddy accepted the role as the first statelevel science and technology specialist for homeland security in the nation, while retaining his position with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) in Huntsville. “I want to leverage the significant investments made by the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies, many of which have direct applications to homeland security,” noted Priddy. Priddy has extensive leadership experience addressing scientific and technical intelligence; foreign material exploitation, modeling and simulation, weapon system survivability and lethality, data collection and analysis, threat simulator development, electronic warfare assessments and countermeasure evaluation. He has worked for both military and DoD contractor organizations. Jim Walker, director of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, is grateful to have Priddy “on loan” from the Army. “The long-range implications were evident to [LTG Larry J.] Dodgen [commanding general, USASMDC] and we’re in agreement that Glenn will serve extremely well in this post.” “In many respects, Alabama is a model state for homeland security. Bringing in Glenn Priddy makes us even more of a model because he’ll facilitate the process of maturing our capabilities,” remarked Walker. In 2003, Alabama formally established the first state cabinet-level department of homeland security in the United States. “We have a wonderful opportunity to show the positive differences that can be made by addressing homeland security at the state level.” Priddy commented, “I’m working with the federal science and technology office of the Department of Homeland
Security to understand how they identify needs and screen technologies to prioritize resource allocations. Any solutions we implement within Alabama will be done with the broader view as to how a specific solution would work for the entire nation, since the U.S., at large, must be made secure.” He added that the state office has generated a few ideas for pilot programs that could be exported nationwide. Walker noted that Dr. Priddy, from his location in Huntsville, may facilitate some economic benefit for Alabama technology companies featuring services and products supporting homeland security initiatives. “There are a lot of companies in Alabama, and especially in Huntsville, with national applications.” Priddy concurred, “A primary reason Jim
Walker wanted a science and technology person to reside in the Huntsville area was to capture the innovation and energy here. We can’t Priddy limit ourselves to Huntsville’s technology base, but Huntsville offers a powerful concentration of capability we plan to capture.” Reflecting upon the importance of science and technology expertise in the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, Walker offered, “It was always said that when you look at the military history of warfare, you’d see the history of technology…I believe the history of homeland security will be the history of technology.”
29 Initiatives June 2004
30 June 2004 Initiatives
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit# 206 Huntsville, AL