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Editor's
Note: This is one in a series of articles profiling a variety of value centers
to help employees learn more about ITT Industries, its people and its products.
ITT 101: Profile of AES
Turning
novel ideas into practical - as well as tactical - solutions.
In the past few years, the U.S. and many other countries
around the world have faced an unprecedented level of threat from hostile
nations that may have the ability to deliver destruction with ballistic
missiles or chemical and biological agents.
But whether the threat starts high in the air or close to the ground, Advanced
Engineering & Sciences (AES) forms a strong link in the chain of defense
against such attacks.
Part of ITT's Defense Electronics & Services, AES provides agencies such
as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Defense and NASA
with a wide range of research, technologies, and engineering support services
to help the government improve homeland defense.
AES consists of four components.
Research and Technology Services provides expertise in fields such
as computer security, high-performance computing and electronic warfare
research.
Applied Engineering Technologies develops special purpose and quick-reaction
equipment and provides vulnerability assessment services for classified
government customers.
Communication, Intelligence and Information Systems is designing
the next generation Air Traffic Controls System for the FAA, manages the
communication spectra for NASA, and designs and builds special equipment
for classified customers.
Integrated Technology Solutions specializes in ballistic missile
defense systems, including targets, countermeasures, flight diagnostics
and telemetry systems, as well as nuclear, biological and chemical defense.
Successful Synergism
AES was formed when ITT Industries acquired Stanford Telecommunications
in 1999. Stanford's high-tech businesses were then combined with the high-tech
portion of Kaman Sciences, which was acquired in 1997. In 2000 AES acquired
Aerotherm Corporation to strengthen its ability to provide high-fidelity
test targets for Ballistic Missile Defense.
In their first year the combined companies were expected to report sales
of more than $140 million, with growth projected to continue at a double-digit
rate. They didn't disappoint, and by 2003 sales had reached the $245 million
level, with no end to this stellar growth expected for the foreseeable future.
AES originally had about 800 employees and now has more than 1,300 employees
who work from 27 locations around the U.S. With disciplines in fields of
advanced engineering and sciences, more than 50 percent of AES employees
have advanced degrees, including 163 with PhDs.
Technology Development is Key
Considering its strong ties to the nation's defense systems, one might think
that AES would be greatly impacted by the military activity in Afghanistan,
Iraq and other parts of the world. That's not necessarily so.
"The situation in Iraq has affected us somewhat, but not dramatically,"
says Chuck Eklund, Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer. "We
continue to grow in our core R&D areas. In addition, we are working to put
some of our technologies in the hands of the soldiers in order to solve
their pressing needs."
This focus on Research and Development is one of the reasons AES was able
to help the U.S. military "hit a bullet with a bullet" during a ballistic
missile defense test over the Pacific Ocean. The target was outfitted with
an AES-developed Photonic Hit Indicator System that transmitted information
before being destroyed just microseconds after impact. AES is the leading
expert in the collection of such high-speed data, which is evaluated to
determine the progression of damage to the target immediately after it's
been hit.
Back on earth, AES is developing and building new technologies for sensing,
monitoring and mapping chemical and biological contamination. Its LISA,
or "Laser Interrogation of Surface Agents" system uses a laser sensor to
detect chemical agents on surfaces. It can be deployed from a safe, "standoff"
distance and eliminates the need to physically touch the agent, thereby
providing an extra measure of safety for technicians.
Such standoff technology is being developed to detect biological agents
as well, an effort complicated by the fact that it's tough to differentiate
biological weapons from naturally occurring background materials. But at
AES one success usually leads to another, and it's simply a matter of time
until a sensor is developed that can detect both chemical and biological
agents in a wide variety of situations.
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Chuck Eklund, senior vice president and chief technical officer of AES,
and the company's LISA system, which uses a laser sensor to detect chemical
agents on surfaces.
Another Key Contract for AES
In March, AES was awarded a contract to provide telecommunications engineering
support to the FAA. The maximum contract value is $206 million. Under the
7-year contract, AES' Communications, Intelligence and Information Systems,
which is also designing the next generation Air Traffic Controls System
for the FAA, will support the FAA in the engineering and management of its
telecommunications networks. |