Spec Ops, Inc. - Defense is the Key

Defense is the key

Va., Richmond-region companies stand tall in supplying military

Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - 12:04 AM

By JOHN REID BLACKWELL

TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Spec Ops Inc. in Ashland looks like an ordinary office and warehouse building.

Step inside the large manufacturing and warehouse space, and the operation is clearly one with a special mission.

Spec Ops is a key supplier to U.S. armed forces.

Engineers and technicians assemble a complex array of communications and video systems set up inside large tents.

The systems are tactical operations centers -- mobile command units with big-screen televisions, digital projection units and other electronics that give commanders quick access to information about battlefield or disaster-area conditions.

The command centers can be deployed at a moment's notice wherever needed by the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force or National Guard. They can be shipped and assembled on site, tents included, in about one hour.

"If you need to get a command center in the jungle in Central America or in the desert in Iraq, we can provide that," said Joe Swider, the company's vice president for business development.

Defense suppliers, large and small, can protect Virginia and the Richmond area from the worst effects of an economic downturn, said Christine Chmura of Chmura Economics & Analytics.

Defense contracts are not typically tied to the ups and downs of the business cycle, she said. "So typically, when the economy goes into recession, it does not have an impact on defense contracts. That tends to add stability to the regional economy."

Defense contracts contributed $29 billion to the Virginia economy in fiscal 2006, making the state second only to California as a beneficiary of defense spending.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine hopes for an increase of $1.15 billion in the total amount of Defense Department-related contracts with Virginia firms by 2010.

Every major U.S. defense contractor has operations in Virginia, said Keith Boswell, who leads the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's services and security business development division.

"What you want in any economy is diversity," Boswell said. "It is a really nice piece of an economic development puzzle when you have something that is there day in and day out."

VSE Corp., a Northern Virginia-based company that repairs and tests military equipment such as vehicles, is undertaking a $6.1 million expansion in Caroline County this year. The company also has a plant in Ashland with about 35 employees.

"We maintain and repair the equipment that is worn out in the process of fighting the war, and we are a proud supporter of the war fighter," said Craig Weber, VSE's chief administrative officer, referring to U.S. military forces in general.

Swider, Spec Ops' vice president, has become an unofficial advocate for the Richmond area among defense suppliers, touting the region's central location and the opportunities afforded by the Fort Lee expansion in Prince George County.

"I don't think everyone really realizes what an impact Fort Lee is going to have," Swider said. "It will be impressive."

The expansion is expected to add nearly 12,000 jobs to the region by 2010 and create $500 million a year in new income for area businesses, including new opportunities for suppliers.

Founded in 2001, not long before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Spec Ops has seen its business from military and civilian agencies balloon.

The company has about 25,000 products in the field, with some in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It has supplied command centers for natural disasters such as Hurri cane Katrina and wildfires in California. Products include lightweight tables wired for laptop computers and video monitors that can be plugged in wherever a command center is set up.

Spec Ops President Paul Garner said revenue has grown about 740 percent in the company's seven years, although as a private venture, sales figures are not released.

"We're planning on doubling our business this year," he said. "This is going to be our first big year in homeland security and [Federal Emergency Management Agency] efforts." The company has 30 employees and expects to expand its staff.

Garner, a military veteran like several of Spec Ops' top officers, saw an opportunity to carve out a niche in the defense supply chain.

"The result is a small company that has a growing niche," he said. "We are all surprised with our success."

Garner said he started the business in Hanover County because Ashland is home. The location has the advantage of being close to interstates between Washington, the Norfolk area and Fort Bragg, N.C., he said.

"With the burgeoning growth down at Fort Lee and even Fort Pickett [at Blackstone], we are getting a lot of targets of opportunity within driving range," Garner said.

Spec Ops falls into a category that is a key economic development target for the Richmond area: logistics suppliers to the military and homeland security agencies.

"If you triangulate what is going on in Northern Virginia and also in Hampton Roads, we are in the middle of that triangle," said Greg Wingfield, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Richmond Partnership, a regional economic development group.

"From the Northern Virginia perspective, if companies are looking to lower costs and be more competitive on contracts, we are a competitive area."

Economic developers promote central Virginia as a good location for backup operations, as contractors and suppliers look for ways to secure information in case of a terrorist attack or disaster.

"If one office goes down, they can set up in another space, ready to go," Wingfield said.

Contact John Reid Blackwell at (804) 775-8123 or jblackwell@timesdispatch.com.

Link to article : www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-03-10-0014.html







							Defense is the key Va., Richmond-region companies stand tall in supplying military Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - 12:04 AM By JOHN REID BLACKWELL TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Spec Ops Inc. in Ashland looks like an ordinary office and warehouse building. Step inside the large manufacturing and warehouse space, and the operation is clearly one with a special mission. Spec Ops is a key supplier to U.S. armed forces. Engineers and technicians assemble a complex array of communications and video systems set up inside large tents. The systems are tactical operations centers -- mobile command units with big-screen televisions, digital projection units and other electronics that give commanders quick access to information about battlefield or disaster-area conditions. The command centers can be deployed at a moment's notice wherever needed by the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force or National Guard. They can be shipped and assembled on site, tents included, in about one hour. "If you need to get a command center in the jungle in Central America or in the desert in Iraq, we can provide that," said Joe Swider, the company's vice president for business development. Defense suppliers, large and small, can protect Virginia and the Richmond area from the worst effects of an economic downturn, said Christine Chmura of Chmura Economics & Analytics. Defense contracts are not typically tied to the ups and downs of the business cycle, she said. "So typically, when the economy goes into recession, it does not have an impact on defense contracts. That tends to add stability to the regional economy." Defense contracts contributed $29 billion to the Virginia economy in fiscal 2006, making the state second only to California as a beneficiary of defense spending. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine hopes for an increase of $1.15 billion in the total amount of Defense Department-related contracts with Virginia firms by 2010. Every major U.S. defense contractor has operations in Virginia, said Keith Boswell, who leads the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's services and security business development division. "What you want in any economy is diversity," Boswell said. "It is a really nice piece of an economic development puzzle when you have something that is there day in and day out." VSE Corp., a Northern Virginia-based company that repairs and tests military equipment such as vehicles, is undertaking a $6.1 million expansion in Caroline County this year. The company also has a plant in Ashland with about 35 employees. "We maintain and repair the equipment that is worn out in the process of fighting the war, and we are a proud supporter of the war fighter," said Craig Weber, VSE's chief administrative officer, referring to U.S. military forces in general. Swider, Spec Ops' vice president, has become an unofficial advocate for the Richmond area among defense suppliers, touting the region's central location and the opportunities afforded by the Fort Lee expansion in Prince George County. "I don't think everyone really realizes what an impact Fort Lee is going to have," Swider said. "It will be impressive." The expansion is expected to add nearly 12,000 jobs to the region by 2010 and create $500 million a year in new income for area businesses, including new opportunities for suppliers. Founded in 2001, not long before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Spec Ops has seen its business from military and civilian agencies balloon. The company has about 25,000 products in the field, with some in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has supplied command centers for natural disasters such as Hurri cane Katrina and wildfires in California. Products include lightweight tables wired for laptop computers and video monitors that can be plugged in wherever a command center is set up. Spec Ops President Paul Garner said revenue has grown about 740 percent in the company's seven years, although as a private venture, sales figures are not released. "We're planning on doubling our business this year," he said. "This is going to be our first big year in homeland security and [Federal Emergency Management Agency] efforts." The company has 30 employees and expects to expand its staff. Garner, a military veteran like several of Spec Ops' top officers, saw an opportunity to carve out a niche in the defense supply chain. "The result is a small company that has a growing niche," he said. "We are all surprised with our success." Garner said he started the business in Hanover County because Ashland is home. The location has the advantage of being close to interstates between Washington, the Norfolk area and Fort Bragg, N.C., he said. "With the burgeoning growth down at Fort Lee and even Fort Pickett [at Blackstone], we are getting a lot of targets of opportunity within driving range," Garner said. Spec Ops falls into a category that is a key economic development target for the Richmond area: logistics suppliers to the military and homeland security agencies. "If you triangulate what is going on in Northern Virginia and also in Hampton Roads, we are in the middle of that triangle," said Greg Wingfield, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Richmond Partnership, a regional economic development group. "From the Northern Virginia perspective, if companies are looking to lower costs and be more competitive on contracts, we are a competitive area." Economic developers promote central Virginia as a good location for backup operations, as contractors and suppliers look for ways to secure information in case of a terrorist attack or disaster. "If one office goes down, they can set up in another space, ready to go," Wingfield said. Contact John Reid Blackwell at (804) 775-8123 or jblackwell@timesdispatch.com. Link to article : www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-03-10-0014.html



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