January 1, 2006
RJLG Readies for Permanent Residence in Greene County
RJ Lee Group is due to have a huge 2006, filled with
milestones and major achievements, an executive for the high-tech
defense contractor announced Thursday.
Glenn Harmon, vice president for RJ Lee Group, presented an update
on the company's plans
to Greene County commissioners as well as members of the media.
"We are extremely optimistic about what's going on here. We are
working to establish a permanent presence in Greene County," Harmon
said. RJ Lee has its headquarters in Monroeville, but it also has a
temporary office on Oakview Drive, Franklin Township. The 15 people
who work in that office are supposed to move to a new facility at
EverGreene Technology Park by early next year. RJ Lee plans to hire
about 10 more workers by the time that move is complete.
RJ Lee Group is due to have a huge 2006, filled with
milestones and major achievements, an executive for the high-tech
defense contractor announced Thursday.
Glenn Harmon, vice president for RJ Lee Group, presented an update
on the company's plans
to Greene County commissioners as well as members of the media.
"We are extremely optimistic about what's going on here. We are
working to establish a permanent presence in Greene County," Harmon
said. RJ Lee has its headquarters in Monroeville, but it also has a
temporary office on Oakview Drive, Franklin Township. The 15 people
who work in that office are supposed to move to a new facility at
EverGreene Technology Park by early next year. RJ Lee plans to hire
about 10 more workers by the time that move is complete.
The EverGreene facility will be a data repository center, where
scientists will collect and analyze data on aircraft engines for
the U.S. Air Force. For at least the past two years, workers in the
Waynesburg office have been busy getting the computer programming
ready to "go live" with a real-time data transmission from Air
Force bases. RJ Lee expects to cross that milestone in
mid-2006.
Once complete, the data center will be able to track the health of
engines in a variety of aircraft throughout the fleet. The
technology will be able to recommend when a worn part needs to be
replaced and how well different engine types perform in different
situations. Harmon said the project will save the government money
in the long term, because the program will be able to recommend
making small repairs before it destroys the entire engine. "We're
looking into commercial applications as well, because we think this
information would be useful in the civilian realm as well as the
military," Harmon said.
RJ Lee received a $4.25 million contract in December 2003 from the
U.S. Air Force, through the efforts of U.S. Rep. John Murtha,
D-Johnstown, to develop the data center. The company has had a
presence in Greene County for at least the past seven years through
its Scanning Electron Microscopy Project at West Greene High
School. RJ Lee will delve into academia again with a separate
project with Waynesburg College and its new science center.
Representatives from RJ Lee will help expand the college's forensic
science curriculum at the new science center next to Stewart Hall.
"Dr. Richard Lee (RJ Lee Group's founder) is very conscious of the
need for solid science and math education," Harmon said. "Plus,
it's a practical practice for the company because of our
recruitment efforts."
Article courtesy of Observer-Reporter
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