DEVENS, Mass. (Dec. 17, 2015) -- Three leaders from Natick Soldier Systems Center spoke to participants at the Air Force, Army, National Guard Small Business Forum held Dec. 11 at Devens Common Center.
The purpose of the event, hosted by the Massachusetts Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force, or MASS-TF, was to show local businesses how to interact and contract with NSSC, Hanscom Air Force Base and the Massachusetts National Guard.
Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Todd III, NSSC senior mission commander; Doug Tamilio, acting technical director of Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center; and Col. Tom Eccles, M.D., commander of U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, briefed attendees on their respective organizations.
Marty Jones, president and chief executive officer of MassDevelopment, began the day by explaining MASS-TF's purpose.
"It was created about four years ago to really focus on our military installations, to make it clear to the federal government and the local people here on the installations that the commonwealth wants to be a partner in helping them figure out how to continue to access small business, to be more cost-effective," Jones said.
Jones pointed out that a 2012 report by MASS-TF on the impact of the six military installations in Massachusetts showed that the bases contributed nearly $9.4 billion to the commonwealth's economy during the previous year.
"Hanscom Air Force Base and Natick Soldier Systems (Center) are particularly bright examples of the intersection of academic, scientific and technological advances that we all pride ourselves (on) here in the commonwealth," Jones said.
Todd told the business representatives that Natick's job was to stay ahead of technology and how the Soldier interfaces with it.
"So, while we're developing new technologies, it's important to remember that the human is always at the center of those technologies," Todd said. "If the Soldier wears it, eats it, sleeps under it, has it airdropped to him or -- quite frankly -- interfaces with it, we're involved at Natick."
Tamilio talked about the challenges faced by NSRDEC in helping maintain the technical edge enjoyed by the American Soldier.
"There's not a better-protected, more lethal Soldier on the battlefield today," Tamilio said. "But I will tell you that it's close. We have some near peers that are pushing technology to the limits."
Eccles, meanwhile, spoke about USARIEM's role in optimizing Soldier performance to get the most out of a smaller Army.
"We're really all about Soldier health and performance in … really, all environments," Eccles said. "Eighty percent of casualties, historically, are due to disease and non-battle injuries. Those are our areas of focus."
Chris Willenborg, executive director of MASS-TF, said that he expected the event to bear fruit in the future.
"Events like this one are crucial in connecting Massachusetts military installations and small businesses, both major drivers of the Commonwealth's economy," Willenborg said. "Thank you to the Air Force, Army and National Guard for the spirit of collaboration they've brought to this forum, and we look forward to the success stories that will come from these connections."
Social Sharing