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Adaptive Methods Research Develops Sonar Equipment for Military

07-13-2005

Chattanooga Times Free Press, 13 July 2005, Mike Pare Staff Writer

A high-tech firm that develops sonar systems for the U.S. Navy plans to open an office in Chattanooga this summer, and its chief would like for it to employ up to 50 people in five years. "I expect employment to grow commensurate with the business," said Llew Wood, whose company employs 60 people at two sites outside of Washington, D.C. Mr. Wood, president of Applied Hydro Acoustics Research Inc., has hired an operations manager and is finding staff for the city. "We’ll be doing a variety of jobs for the U.S. Navy on some new sonar system programs and those installed in new ship programs. We will hit the ground running," said Mr. Wood, who with other employees purchased the company in 2001. The Georgia Tech graduate said the business has grown 20 percent to 30 percent annually since 2001 in revenues and employees.

The businessman said he met with U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., in December and talked about the congressman’s vision for bringing high-tech firms to the area. "It looked like a match," Mr. Wood said. Rep. Wamp said the Tennessee Valley Corridor’s 10th national technology summit was held in Washington, D.C., this week, designed to use the muscle of government and the ingenuity of the private sector to create "a go-go region for science and technology." "What better way to illustrate the strengths of Southeast Tennessee than by commending Applied Hydro Acoustics’ decision to bring its state-of-the-art surveillance systems and war coordination tools for submarines and destroyers to Chattanooga," he said.

A key to landing the company was the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s SIM Center, which develops computational simulation that supports designers of a variety of systems. Keith Buckner, who is managing operations locally for the company, said it is discussing growth opportunities with UTC. Company officials see SIM Center graduates as potential employees. "We are a research and development firm and a technology transition firm. As a rule we closely work with universities and university labs," Mr. Wood said. Joe Ferguson, who heads Chattanooga’s Enterprise Center, said there are a lot of ways the company can work with the center. "I see tremendous synergies there," he said. Jim Reichardt, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s business development director, said the group is marketing the city in the Washington area and among California to high-tech firms. "Chattanooga fits the bill for a lot of professional people," he said, adding many firms tired of soaring land and labor costs, long commutes and climbing home prices in bigger cities.

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