The Partnership for Defense Innovation expects to receive a $4.7
million federal contract that would allow for the expansion of its SOF Wireless Lab and Testbed and bring new jobs.

“If it sounds like 2008 was a successful year, then 2009 will be a banner year,” said R. Scott Perry, president of PDI, an economic development organization.

The expansion of the existing wireless lab — which is used to test and evaluate government and commercial communications — is just one of several reasons why this year will be big for the organization, Perry said Tuesday.

He was speaking to a group of about 50 people gathered at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum to hear highlights from last year and PDI’s plans for the new one.

Perry said that the lab contract, which he said involves already approved federal funds, should come through sometime around March 1.

Once that happens, work will begin on the 16,000-square-foot expansion that should take about six months to build, Perry said after the meeting.

He said the expansion is going into what is now an empty field adjoining PDI’s existing location on Ramsey Street. The hope is to have the expanded facility operational by September.

Jobs will be created during the construction phase, Perry said. Once operational, the lab will open positions for those in the science and technology fields such as network, wireless and software engineers.

During fiscal 2008, 73 jobs were created through PDI’s efforts for a total of 150 jobs since opening, Perry said Tuesday. The 44 contracts that client companies received during 2008 bring the total to 91 contracts since opening, according to PDI.

“For every state or federal dollar invested in PDI the program has returned $5 back,” Perry said. “The program works.”

In 2006, the U.S. Army Research Office picked PDI to build and host a wireless communications research lab — which opened its doors early last year.

The lab was charged with performing Security Wireless Test & Evaluation for the 112th Signal Battalion, based on Fort Bragg. The U.S. Special Operations Command Science and Technology Directorate has assumed program oversight and role of executive agent from the offices of the Army Research Lab.

The lab expansion will involve thermal shock chambers, vibration tables and controls that will allow for testing in extreme heat and extreme cold, Perry said.

“We will also have humidity chambers,” he added.

“Like we would need them in Fayetteville,” Perry joked.

During the museum event, Perry ticked off a long list of highlights for PDI from 2008, which included the opening of a satellite office at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and one at North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus.

Two recent hires for those offices include Gary E. Mitchell, who will be senior business developer in Charlotte and Randy McLean, who has been hired as business developer for the Centennial Campus office.

Before joining PDI, Mitchell was the district director, and a senior staff member for U.S. Congressman Robin Hayes, where his primary role was economic development, specifically in the defense arena.

McLean came from Global DataGuard Inc., a network security services provider. There he was responsible for worldwide partnerships with system and computer integration companies.

Mitchell and McLean will be responsible for the recruitment of client and affiliate companies for the Defense & Security Technology Program Accelerator — a business accelerator program managed by PDI.

Also at the museum Tuesday, Perry recognized K3 Enterprises Inc., the first client company to graduate from the accelerator.

Brian Kent, president of K3 Enterprises, said the company hopes to move into its new headquarters (inside the former Sears building on Cumberland Street) by June.