Cutting the ribbon from left to right are Col. Michael Morrow, Fort Lee garrison commander; Gary Lichvar, Software Engineering Center Business Mission Area director; Ned Keeler, SEC director; Ricky Daniels, SEC Tactical Logistics director; and SEC In...

FORT LEE, Va. (June 8, 2010) -- The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command's Software Engineering Center senior leadership and personnel celebrated the opening of a $14-million newly renovated and equipped facilty during a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 2 at Fort Lee, Va.

"It was a wonderful event," said SEC Director Ned Keeler. "Our visitors had the opportunity to tour SEC's newest facility while celebrating the occasion with our employees and other guests."

Customers, vendors, business partners and local dignitaries joined SEC to officially open the new facility located in Von Steuben Hall. The space will house the business mission area of the SEC Tactical Logistics Directorate.

Von Steuben Hall is commonly known as the "blockhouse." In 1959, at the height of the Cold War, the Air Force used the facility for the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Then the four-story building housed two massive computers, each containing 50,000 electron tubes. The building was made of 18-inch blast-resistant, reinforced concrete that contained its own power generators and was designed to withstand direct hits.

"This facility has come full circle, serving as the hub of technology in the mid 1950s and today serving as a state-of-the-art Software Engineering Center," said Gary Lichvar, SEC Business Mission Area director.

As a result of BRAC 2005, SEC-Lee was able to consolidate its operations from six different buildings, including a warehouse, into Von Steuben Hall. The $14-million renovation process begun in the fall of 2007 included replacing all fixtures to meet energy standards, constructing fully handicap-accessible unisex restrooms and installing an electric security system.

The new space has a fire and safety system installed, in addition to a public announcement system for Fort Lee officials to use in cases of emergency. Complete gaseous fire suppression systems were installed in the computer rooms, with stand-alone fire detection and release panels.

"There is a great sense of camaraderie here in the Tactical Logistics Directorate," said Director Ricky Daniels. "This building provides us with a wonderful opportunity to pull our workforce together to deliver even better software products and services that support and protect America's Warfighters."

(The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Software Engineering Center provides software products and services to support and protect America's warfighters. From the business office to the battlespace, SEC delivers life-cycle software solutions that enable warfighting superiority and information dominance across the enterprise.)