From DoD patent to corporate success:
DefTech commercialization program expands to Fort Meade
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With the expansion of DefTech to the Fort Meade Region, government and industry officials are striving to help entrepreneurs license patented technologies from Department of Defense laboratories and transform them into commercial products.
DefTech started as a pilot program at Aberdeen Proving Grounds barely 18 months ago. Initiated by the Maryland Department of Commerce, funded by a federal grant and equipped with a database of all patents registered by DoD labs in Maryland, the Maryland Defense Technology Commercialization Center (DefTech) set out to ease the challenges that commonly thwart commercialization of federal research.
Within six months, DefTech “showed so many soft successes and the potential for great successes” that it secured funds to expand into the Fort Detrick and Fort Meade regions, said Lisa Swoboda, Senior Director of Maryland’s Office of Military and Federal Affairs. That funding included a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration grant of $750,000 plus another $750,000 from 11 new government and industry partners, including the Fort Meade Alliance.
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Cyber Warrior program opens doors for HBCU students
Hunkered down in computer labs on Friday nights and Saturdays for 10 weeks straight, groups of college students worked through courses that wouldn’t earn them a single academic credit but could foster a larger, more diverse workforce for the cyber industry.
The students at four Maryland Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) — Morgan, Coppin, Bowie and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore — were participating in the Cyber Warrior Diversity Program. The multi-semester program provides students with non-credit, no-cost training and testing so that they can earn certifications in A+, Network+ and Security+.
The program is the brainchild of Lance Lucas, founder of Digit All City, a company dedicated to expanding technology education opportunities to socio-economically disadvantaged populations. Lucas started providing tech training to disadvantaged Baltimore City teenagers 20 years ago then worked to expand that service through partnerships with the Obama Administration. While participating in a White House Initiative on HBCUs seminar on the need to increase diversity in the cyber security workforce, Lucas connected with officials from Northrop Grumman. Together, Digit All City and Northrop Grumman launched the pilot of the Cyber Warrior Diversity Program.
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New FMA Executive Committee and Board Members Elected
The Fort Meade Alliance (FMA) elected new members of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors during the FMA Annual Meeting on June 13, 2019 held at the BWI Hilton.
FMA Past President
Steven Tiller
of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston was re-elected to the Board of Directors as well as the Executive Committee. Board Director
Diana Gresham
of Bridges Consulting was also elected to the Executive Committee.
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Re-appointed to serve another three-year term are FMA Executive Committee Member
Will Metts
of Northrop Grumman Corporation and FMA Board Director
Steve Zotti
of Ciena Government Solutions, Inc.
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Lisa Decker
of The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. and Chair of the FMA Military & Family Committee was welcomed back to the FMA Board of Directors after one year.
Jack Terry
of Leidos and
Jerry Walker
of Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp. are the board’s two newest directors.
The FMA would like to thank retiring Board Directors,
Hubert Braithwaite
of HSR Health and
Bill Dunahoo
of Praxis Engineering for their service to the FMA mission.
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Two Meade High School Students Receive McCreedy Scholarship
The Fort Meade Alliance Foundation presented the McCreedy Scholarship to two Meade High School seniors at the FMA Annual Meeting.
The scholarship was created to assist Meade High School students who plan to pursue higher education in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) or linguistics. The two recipients of this award were
Malik Gale
and
Jonathan Bamgbade.
An aspiring engineer since the 9th grade, Jonathan is eager to study computer engineering and work towards his career goal of, "being on the global forefront of developing the latest revolutionary technology."
Malik credits both his mother and educators for helping him figure out his passion to protect individuals from the harm a cyber attack can bring. He is excited to further his education and work in the cyber security field.
We know these two have a bright future ahead of them and were thrilled to present this year's McCreedy Scholarships to both of them.
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FMA Foundation News
Frankie Velez
of Boeing Intelligence & Analytics has been appointed as the Fort Meade Alliance (FMA) Foundation’s newest board member, effective immediately.
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The latest edition of our Destination Fort Meade Guide is now available!
This comprehensive guide,created by the Fort Meade Alliance, is designed to showcase our businesses, organizations and government agencies, and also feature all that the Fort Meade region has to offer from housing, education and transportation to area attractions, community events and cultural activities.
If you are interested in acquiring free copies to distribute to your employees or clients, please email Melissa Edwards at
medwards@ftmeadealliance.org
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Last year we introduced our first Mentorship Program for Rising Stars from FMA member companies. The program gave young professionals under the age of 35 the opportunity to connect with leaders, expand their network and grow professionally. The Mentorship Program was such a success that we are bringing it back again this year.
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Say hello to our newest members
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Acquired Data Solutions
Bri-Bet Security Solutions
Critical Power Group
Cybrary, Inc.
Ennoble First
Hartman Executive Advisors
J.P.Morgan Chase
Jazz Networks
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NiSUS Technologies Corporation
Q's Vision LLC
QuTech
Sabre Engineering, Inc.
SafeNet Assured Technologies
TrainACE
Trident Builders LLC
Zimperium, Inc.
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FMA Members Only Cocktail Reception
September 26, 2019 at 5:30pm
David's at Maryland Live!
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Key Leader Series
October 10, 2019 at 7:30am
BWI Hilton
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Registration for both events will open later this summer.
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Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation
ASRC Federal
Boeing Intelligence & Analytics
CACI
Chugach Government Solutions
Ciena Government Solutions, Inc. (CGSI)
Corporate Office Properties Trust
Deloitte LLP
Howard County Economic Development Authority
KeyW Corporation
LG-TEK
ManTech International Corporation
Parsons
PCI
Praxis Engineering
Raytheon
SAIC
Tower Federal Credit Union
Vision Technologies
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
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Aronson, LLC
ClearEdge
DataStax, Inc.
Howard Community College
National Instruments
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