CHAMBER NEWS Connect T H E L AT EST H EAD L I NES, U P DATES AN D IN S IDER IN FO FROM YOUR CHAMBER
THE LATEST TECH NEWS: MGMWERX PITCH NIGHT GETS $1.5M COMMITMENT Maj. Alexander Criss, a student
system. Through his proposed
at the U.S. Air Force’s Air
solution, BETTY – Better
University School of Advanced
Effectiveness Through Tracking
Air and Space Studies earned
Yourself, U.S. Air Force air
first place in academic research
crews would be armed with a
for 2019 during the inaugural
monitoring device serviced by
Top Flight Pitch Night hosted by
the right tools to identify and
MGMWERX on May 21.
combat fatigue. Their leaders,
MITS SHOWCASES MGM’S MIGHTY IT SECTOR Nearly 1,000 IT professionals gathered in Montgomery for the 26th annual Montgomery Information Technology Summit (MITS) on May 21 and 22. These program managers, engineers, software developers, business development professionals, senior executives and field users from internationally known companies like Dell, Amazon and AT&T, as well as local vendors, represent a significant sector of Montgomery’s economy. A growing sector, as a recent
in turn, would have the tools In addition to the distinction,
necessary to make accurate and
Criss’ pitch for “Tired of Flying:
informed real-time risk-
The Unmitigated Risk of Aircrew
based decisions.
Milken Institute report demonstrates, naming the city No. 1 in the nation for hi-tech DGP growth from 2016-17. At the conference, MaxwellGunter’s Business and Enterprise
Fatigue,” caught the attention of
Winner, Winner
one judge, David Shahady, the
The judges’ panel of
Director of the Air Force Small
four military and industry
On May 23, the Montgomery
Business Innovation Research
experts including Cotton,
Young AFCEA Advisory
(SBIR) and Small Business
Shahady, Paavo Hanninen
Council (YAAC) and TechMGM
Technology Transfer Program,
from Alabama Small
who in a stunning move, teamed
Business Development
with Air University President and
Center Network at the
judge, Lt. Gen. Anthony Cotton,
University of Alabama,
to commit funds for a future
and Likia Hawkins, the
SBIR Phase II topic to address
President and Chief
Criss’ idea.
Executive Officer Steel
Officer Richard Aldridge
hosted their first e-sports competition, Gump Goes Gaming, which hosted 30
concurred on the winner
commitment for a direct to
and were encouraged
Phase II SBIR topic expected in
by the broader commercial
the next Department of Defense
application for this idea.
broad agency announcement for SBIR/STTR. The topic allows an
MGMWERX was created under
industry partner the opportunity
a Partnership Intermediary
to develop a solution for the
Agreement to align with
challenges identified in Criss’
the education initiatives of
student research.
Air University. MGMWERX augments ongoing Air University
Criss’ work focused on how
programs, through events
the Mobility Air Forces are
like Pitch Night, to enhance
unwittingly accepting and
production of high-quality,
executing routine and low-
innovative research and ideas
priority missions with high
that span issues of importance
levels of unidentified fatigue
to the Air Force.
risks because of an inadequate and outdated risk management
announced the launch of BESPIN, a new agile software development program that will allow the Air Force to rapidly develop software solutions
students from across the city
through partnering with private
and Maxwell-Gunter Annex
sector companies, offering
airmen at the MGMWERX
unprecedented opportunities
facility for a night of video
for companies to do business
games and tech networking.
Point Solutions, LLC, Shahady offered a $1.5 million
Systems Program Executive
with the Air Force, right outside of the gates of the base in Montgomery. Aldridge also
announced the first contract related to this effort with the Baltimore-based firm Fearless. “What really intrigued us was the focus on the community in Montgomery. The socioeconomic, social justice and tech ecosystem needs closely parallel what we encounter in Baltimore,” Fearless’ founder Delali Dzirasa said in a statement. MITS is organized by the Montgomery Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), which is one of the strongest chapters globally, thanks to the vibrant community of contractors, academia and government personnel in the area that have supported the DoD missions of Maxwell-Gunter for more than 50 years. The preservation and expansion of such missions is a key priority for the Chamber.
82 MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL