(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) today announced that she has included $84.6 million in federal defense work for Washington state companies in the Fiscal Year 2009 Defense Appropriations bill. Senator Murray serves on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. The legislation, which was has now passed the Senate and House of Representatives, is expected to be signed by the President before October 1st.
“This funding will help get the cutting edge military equipment being developed here in Washington into the hands of our men and women in the military,” said Senator Murray. “It will also help create family wage jobs throughout our state at a time when we need an economic boost. Washington state companies are at the forefront of research and development and they continue to come up with new ways to keep our service members and country safe. I will continue to work as their partner to bring the best technologies to our military.”
Projects Funded Throughout Washington State
High-Pressure/Microwave MRE Processing
Avure Technologies, Kent and Washington State University, Pullman
$1.6 million
The Army and a consortium of industry and academic researchers are developing new food preservation technologies to improve the quality and variety of combat food rations. High-pressure processing (HPP) improves the freshness, shelf life, and taste of food to deployed forces worldwide. This technology can also be used to provide high-quality, non-refrigerated food for disaster relief and other emergencies. These funds will help the consortium move this program from the design stage to the demonstration and manufacturing phase.
Limb Tissue Regeneration after Battlefield Injuries using Bone Marrow Stem Cells
Oregon Biomedical Engineering Institute, Portland, OR
$3 million
The majority of all traumatic combat wounds in current conflicts have involved severe injury to the extremities, primarily caused by IEDs. More than 20,000 Americans have sustained devastating injuries; the vast majority of these soldiers suffer from permanent disfigurement and disability because there are virtually no tissues available for repair, replacement or regeneration in this country. This funding will be used to initiate clinical trials that use soldiers own stem cells derived from his or her bone marrow to treat compartment syndrome and other extremity injuries resulting from combat. The ability to an individual’s own cells to safely accelerate healing and regenerate tissues lost to trauma, disease and aging could have a vast positive impact on public health while potentially dramatically reducing medical and surgical costs and costs of disability and loss of function.
The Component Object Model (COM) Attitude Control System Simulation/Trainer
Andrews Space, Seattle
$1.6 million
Current military satellite operator training programs developed in the 1960s and 1970s are out dated and costly to run. The Component Object Model (COM) Attitude Control System Simulation/Trainer will help the Air Force integrate state-of-the-art software and hardware into Air Force Training Facilities to better train military satellite operators at a lower cost. Satellite system operators will be able to train with the new simulator in real time on laptop computers at their desks. The simulator—which can be modified for past, present or future spacecraft configurations—will also be integrated into the Air Force’s Satellite Ground Control Facilities.
High Speed Aluminum Towable Boat lifts
Sunstream Corporation, Kent
$4 million
This funding will be used is to procure boat lifts that allow for quick launch capabilities when compared to untying a boat before boarding, pushing off, etc. This program will fund lifts for the Navy that will be configured to support multiple missions at several Navy command stations. They also allow personnel easier craft access and better lift stability to ensure crew safety for boarding and docking.
Research Institute Center for Control of Inflammation and Tissue Repair
Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle
$3.2 million
Roadside bombs and other explosive and projectile weaponry in today’s combat zones can inflict severe injuries and massive tissue loss that challenge available means of treating wounds. The emerging field of tissue engineering offers promising new treatments for large scale repair and replacement of injured areas of the body. This funding will move research into improved wound healing treatments toward clinical implementation. This initiative will support 24 medical researchers and their assistants as well as support research and testing in Washington state.
High Energy Matter Space Propulsion Initiative
Washington State University , Pullman
$3 million
The funding for this program will continue WSU research related to generation and storage of positrons. This technology can be applied to materials analysis, medical diagnostics, efficient power applications, and energy sources for space flight.
Weather Observation Systems for the 21st Century
Coastal Environmental Systems, Seattle
$3 million
This funding for new fixed-base weather stations will allow the Air Force to replace obsolete instrumentation. These observation systems are necessary to assist pilots and air crews to safely take-off and land in all weather conditions. In addition to providing pilots with accurate weather, wind speed, and visibility information, these stations report data to a larger weather system which provides forecasts worldwide for combat and peacekeeping operations. This program employs 40 people at Coastal Environmental Systems in Seattle, WA.
Scalable Open Architecture Upgradeable Reliable Computing Environment
Progeny Systems Corporation, Gig Harbor
$3 million
To meet the fleet desires to accelerate the fielding of Undersea Warfare Decision Support System, the Navy needs to quickly migrate to a more cost effective and efficient method of fielding a more scalable, open, upgradeable, reliable computing environment (SOURCE).
66’ Coastal Command Boat
SAFE Boats International, Port Orchard
$5 million
This funding will go toward allowing the Navy to field a platform capable of operating in a wide range of weather and sea conditions.
Expeditionary Swimmer Defense System
Sound and Sea Technologies, Edmonds
$2.4 million
Protecting Navy ships is the Navy’s highest Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection priority. This program will develop a system for protecting critical infrastructure and military assets from surprise maritime attacks by detecting and defending against surface and underwater threats. The system seeks to incorporate electro-optical cables and physical barriers to provide Navy ships robust protection from maritime terrorist attacks in a manner compatible with environmental considerations for fisheries and marine mammals. This funding will help complete a final design and prototype testing.
2.0kW Stirling Tactical Cogeneration System
Infinia Corporation, Kennewick
$2.4 million
This project seeks to provide a small, efficient, quiet, low emission, reliable and low maintenance power generation system. Funds for this program would transition the STaCS power generation prototype to a field demonstration system.
Reactive Overlay and Removable CBRN Coatings
Isotron Corporation, Seattle
$1.6 million
These removable coatings protect vehicles against chemical, biological and radiological threats and will reduce vehicle decontamination time after use, as compared to existing technology. Funding for this project will advance removable vehicle coatings technology to field deployable status.
Improved Stealth and Lower Cost Operations for US Naval Ships Using High Strength
Flame Resistant LCP Reinforced Netting
Diamond Nets, Inc., Everson
$1.6 million
This funding will go toward creating a flame resistant cordage net that can be used for all Navy applications, especially where high temperature is required. This product seeks to create a net that eliminates the threat of radar detection and reduces costs and logistics problems common with other netting.
Navy Region Northwest Large Harbor Tugs
J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, Tacoma
$11.8 million
This funding will go toward building a Large Harbor Tug for use within Navy Region Northwest. This region is currently in the process of recapitalizing its tug capacity, and the Navy has identified the need for the immediate availability of a minimum of seven to eight tugs in Navy Region Northwest.
Lightweight Multi-purpose Laser
nLight, Vancouver
$960,000
This program will help develop a new class of eye-safe military lasers that will help reduce civilian deaths and friendly fire incidents in combat situations. The project will also help develop U.S. based fiber laser technology to be used in counter IED systems.
Health Surveillance System
CombiMatrix Corporation, Mukilteo
$1.6 million
Funds would help development of a deployable health surveillance platform to treat varied health conditions. It uses advanced technology to support over 12,000 analytical tests on a single microchip. It is configured to detect changes in the body’s chemistry and function that indicate trauma for timely intervention.
Portable Launch and Recovery System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operation From Small Vessels
Insitu Inc., Bingen
$3.2 million
The Portable Launch and Recovery System (PLRS) will allow long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles to operate from small vessels in support of Navy Special Warfare teams.
SEALION Craft
Oregon Iron Works
Clackamas, OR; Vancouver, WA
$3.2 million
This funding will be used for the research and development on the SEALION craft. Funding for this project will lead to the creation and retention of family wage jobs in the Portland metropolitan area, both in the Oregon Iron Works facilities and in Clackamas, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.
Inductive Thermography Systems Inspection
Quest Integrated, Kent
$2.4 million
This funding will assist development of new tools with which to conduct non-destructive inspections of airplane bodies. Current techniques are either inadequate or overly costly.
Optical Neural Techniques for Combat / Post-Trauma Healthcare
Aculight, Inc., Bothell
$1.6 million
This project will focus on mitigating hearing loss with laser nerve stimulation that will target effected nerves and tissues and treat them without affecting surrounding tissues. There is a need to mitigate hearing loss among the servicemember population.
Light Tactical Vehicle Ambulance Shelter
Amtech Corporation, Wapato
$2.4 million
The Army and Marines have an immediate need for shelters providing ballistic protection for various light tactical vehicle configurations. This funding will support finalizing design/development of the basic ambulance module and additional armor plating for light tactical vehicles.
Low Voltage, Wideband Electro-Optic Polymer Modulators
Lumera Corporation, Bothell
$3 million
The Air Force and Department of Defense have a present and ongoing need for technologies that convert high-speed electrical signals to light signals with low power and high-fidelity. The additional funding requested will complete the development, prototyping and testing of Low Voltage, Wideband Electro-Optic (EO) Polymer Modulators for data transmission at very high speeds and with ultra-low power consumption.
National Guard CST/CERFP Sustainment Training & Evaluation Program
Volpentest HAMMER Training & Education Center, Richland
$800,000
CST/CERFP STEP will bring specialized National Guard teams from across the country to the Volpentest HAMMER Center in Richland, where they will receive critical hands-on training in responding to potential WMD incidents. The Commission on the National Guard and Reserve found earlier this year that the United States “does not have sufficient trained, ready forces available” for WMD incident response, and this funding will be used to boost the National Guard’s capabilities in this key area.
Advanced Skills Management System
Paladin Data Systems Corp., Poulsbo
$1,200,000
This system will be a centrally-hosted, web-centric tool allowing for global, real time management of the Navy workforce. This project would reduce the administrative and system maintenance costs, improve access and accuracy of records for all service and contractor support personnel and allow for system integration with other initiatives.
Madigan Army Medical Center Trauma Assistance Program
Tacoma Trauma Trust, Tacoma, WA
$1,600,000
TTT provides military physicians with critical trauma training to ensure that deployed military personnel receive the best care possible. Since TTT is a partnership between the Madigan Army Medical Center and two Tacoma area hospitals (Tacoma General and St. Joseph’s), the training it funds will benefit nonmilitary local residents as well as servicemembers.
Northwest Manufacturing Initiative
Manufacturing 21 Coalition, Portland, OR
$1,600,000
The NWI is a coalition of eighty private, non-profit and public entities in Oregon and Washington State working to support and enhance the Northwest’s highly diverse manufacturing sector and the living wage jobs it provides. Funds will be used to develop sustainable manufacturing materials for defense applications, promote green supply chain management, and expand workforce readiness programs, with an emphasis on training underemployed youth and young adults.
Autonomous Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Delivery and Communication Implementation
Science Applications International Corporation, Lynnwood
$2,800,000
The AUDAC implementation project will build on the initial design and demonstration effort funded in the FY08 DOD Appropriations Act. This project aims to promote operational flexibility for the U.S. Navy by developing Unmanned Undersea Vehicle “host” capabilities. Typically, manned platforms such as small boats must be used to deploy multiple, small UUVs in hostile waters. Project funding will go towards developing the capabilities of larger UUVs to do this job instead. A demonstration will be designed in which a host UUV transports, deploys and recovers smaller UUVS, and aggregates collected data.
Systems Biology Biomarkers Toxicology Initiative
Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle
$2,640,000
The SBBTI will collaborate closely with the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), an Army lab, to develop IT underpinnings for the Army’s bioforensics program. The SCCTI will also support the ECBC’s molecular toxicology program, by developing blood biomarkers to determine healthiness and toxicity levels of the liver.These studies have important implications for key DOD goals such as the ability to detect exposure to chemical toxins or biological infectious agents.
Kinetic Hydropower Systems
Verdant Power, Seattle
$2,400,000
Verdant Power will work with the U.S. Navy to design, assemble, and operate an array of KHPS turbines in the Puget Sound and provide power to a U.S. Navy facility. This funding will be used to develop a turbine system capable of achieving approximately 1 MW of power at a pilot site. KHPS turbines use tidal power as a constantly flowing source of renewable energy, require no dams, and allow for the safe passage of marine life.
Joint Electronic Warfare Training and Tactics Development
Electronic Warfare Associates, Inc., NAS Whidbey
$2,000,000
The funding will be used for the U.S. Navy’s Electronic Attack Weapons School (EAWS) at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. EAWS plays a key role training military personnel in electronic warfare techniques (EW), and it has become increasingly important as the military faces EW specialist shortages due to current operational demands. This funding will be used to expand the joint EW training program, and also to develop enhanced EW tactics.
Ultra-High Resolution Display for Army Medicine
eMagin, Bellevue
$4,000,000
The UHRDARM project will develop cost-effective, head-mounted display (HMD) technology to provide advanced simulation capability for Army Medicine training. The incorporation of Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology into HMDs will deliver HDTV-level resolution, while retaining the advantages of HMD applications, such as low power requirements, compact size and light weight.
English 
Spanish