HAMPTON UNIVERSITY TEAMS UP TO REDUCE THREATS TO NATIONAL DEFENSE

Hampton, VA - Hampton University’s Data Conversion and Management Laboratory and the School of Science will participate with a team of organizations that will perform research-and-development services for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) aimed at reducing threats to national defense and homeland security from Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Hampton University will play a significant role in this massive project consisting of five major prime contractors who are expected to provide up to $1.26 billion worth of services to DTRA.

"Hampton University’s principal area of responsibility within the resulting contract is to develop, maintain, and apply state-of-the-art capabilities for the conversion of various sources of documentation to digital media, conduct research and analysis, and perform studies within the areas germane to the DTRA Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Program," said Jerry Swenson, the program manager of the Data Conversion Lab. "Hampton University may also be called upon to provide support in the other areas called out within the Defense Threat Reduction Agency Technology Development Directorate Weapons of Mass Destruction Defeat Technology Request for Proposals as necessary."
According to Jim Balentine, vice president and general manager of the defense segment of Cubic's Simulation System Division, the San Diego-based Cubic Corporation which is one of the major companies involved in the project (AMEX: CUB), "Cubic’s team consists of six large and seven small and/or disadvantaged businesses, and two academic institutions -- Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory and Hampton University. All of our team members have earned outstanding reputations and are well known and respected in the WMD scientific and analytical communities."

Gerald Dinkel, president and CEO of the Cubic Defense Applications group said that the models that will be created are important to WMD experts around the globe. "Together with our partner companies and universities, we will also be able to help take weapons effects research to the next level."

The project includes research and development, systems engineering and integration, and other technical support in areas relating to weapon and target technologies, hazard assessment technologies, and modeling and simulation integration and architecture.

The Hampton University Data Conversion and Management Laboratory, which opened in 2000, is a state-of-the-art document conversion and management service bureau that offers its clients the opportunity to move their data to an electronic format. The secure facility is capable of processing a variety of document types and sizes and features the following services: document scanning operations, CAD data management and data warehousing. Data transports are achieved through a secure network.

The data conversion and management lab, which includes more than 3,000 square feet of operational space, is the only one of its kind at a university in the Hampton Roads region. It is the only lab of its kind at an historically black college or university in the nation. Primary clients include Department of Defense contractors and military units.