Government Solutions: U.S. Army and GTRI Dedicate New Communications Electronics Laboratory in Atlanta

U.S. Army and GTRI Dedicate New Communications Electronics Laboratory in Atlanta

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is expanding its collaboration with the U.S. Army by establishing an on-site laboratory that will work closely with the Army in the field of communications electronics.

Known as the Army Reprogramming Analysis Team - Support Cell Atlanta (ARAT-SC ATL), the new facility will develop software and other technologies for communications electronics used by U.S. soldiers in the field.

Representatives from the Army and GTRI officially opened the laboratory recently at a dedication ceremony in GTRI's Baker Building on the Georgia Tech campus. As attendees cut the ceremonial ribbon, representatives from both organizations expressed great expectations for the new collaboration.

"I think we're all exceptionally excited to see the facilities you have, the energy and interest you show in this research area, and the accomplishments you have already had," said Ned Keeler, director of the Software Engineering Center (SEC) of the Army's Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM). "There's plenty of room for us to grow this relationship, and it can be beneficial to us both."

Keeler said the Army looks on GTRI as a "mission enhancer - we want to exploit your talent to do our job better and smarter." He characterized GTRI as a "mission enabler" as well - a partner to help smooth SEC-CECOM's upcoming relocation from Ft. Monmouth, N.J., to Aberdeen, Md., and to assist in making that transition "transparent to the warfighter."

Stephen E. Cross, GTRI director and a Georgia Tech vice president, spoke of GTRI's enthusiasm regarding the new assignment.

"It's partnerships like this one that really make our work at GTRI have value," Cross said. "When we work together, we come up with great new ways to do things."

He stressed GTRI's full commitment to the research that is being performed in the new ARAT-SC ATL facility.

"We thank you for the opportunity you have presented to us, and the trust that you have placed in us," he said. "We will never lose sight of the fact that, above all, it's for the soldier in the field that we're doing this."

Michael Crapanzano, division chief of the ARAT Program Office, described how this latest GTRI-Army partnership came together in the wake of initial meetings last year.

"It soon became obvious to me that GTRI was a very serious government organization, and that you have a wealth of experience supporting similar efforts quickly and efficiently," he said. "I think this effort is going to benefit the United States Army long after we're all retired - and that's what it's all about."

Among those who also attended the dedication ceremony were John Sensing, ARAT executive officer; Joe Ingrao, director, Warfighter Mission Area, and Eddy Hitti, Software Engineering Center director, ISR.

On the GTRI side, attendees included Tom McDermott, deputy director and director of research; Lisa Sills, deputy director and director of support services; Gisele Bennett, director of the Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory; Terry Tibbitts, director of the Electronic Systems Laboratory, and GTRI researchers Lee Simonetta, Ray Perry and David Zurn. Georgia Tech professor of military science Lt. Col. Nathaniel Farmer also attended.

The Army Reprogramming Analysis Team is the primary distribution point for threat updates to Army aviation, ground systems and platforms. Among other services, it support warfighters by assisting with installation, operation and maintenance of aircraft survivability equipment, and it supports operations for the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines.

The ARAT Program Office is comprised of four support components: the ARAT Operations Center, ARAT Support Cells, ARAT Threat Analysis and ARAT Software Engineering.