Contact:

Paige Ladd

Partnership for Defense Innovation

(P): 910.307.3005

(E): pladd@dstanc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fayetteville, NC (June 17, 2009)- The Partnership for Defense Innovation (PDI), has been authorized $3.5M for the completion, testing and validation of a Tactical PSYOP Situational Awareness System that will provide psychological affairs forces capability to maintain situational awareness and immediately share critical imagery, intelligence and information during tactical operations.  This means that realtime information can be shared during tactical and combat operations between the warfighter and higher headquarters.

This funding is part of the 2010 National Defense Authorization bill that U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, announced on Tuesday, and is a part of the $1.12 billion approved for military construction and other projects for North Carolina Military Installations.

The United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (USACAPOC) are headquartered at Fort Bragg.  The funding for the communications system will provide testing of technology assets for the enhancement of current and future missions, while creating a need for highly skilled technicians and engineers, who will work in PDI’s local R & D Laboratory.

“PDI is sincerely grateful to the congressional delegation for making this funding possible, “  Scott Perry, President, PDI stated,  “this continued funding allows the Partnership for Defense Innovation to conduct research and development on technologies which provide immediate tools for our ground forces in combat, and ultimately, saves lives.  Our lab capabilities combined with statewide academic collaboration and world renowned researchers provide national security and defense organizations the very best in technology development.”  The PDI R&D Lab currently supports the Army Research Lab, Naval Post Graduate School and United States Special Operations Command.  An additional contract with the Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate (I2WD) is expected in August 2009 for previous appropriated funding.

About PDI:

PDI is a tax exempt 501c (3) organization which promotes economic development by supporting research and development, education and programs which have applications in defense and security.  It is home to the PDI Wireless Lab & Testbed and the Defense and Security Technology Accelerator.  We collaborate with educational institutions, the military/intelligence community, State of N.C. and private institutions by encouraging the development of technology.

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