Dimensions International, Sentel form "one-stop shop"

Dimensions International Inc., an IT and logistics firm serving the Defense Department and the Federal Aviation Administration, has acquired Sentel Corp., which specializes in sensor networks and defense engineering services.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Merging the two Alexandria, Va., companies will create a $100 million systems integrator with more than 800 employees, company officials said.

"Sentel's prowess in engineering and chem-bio defense complements our strengths," said Russell Wright, chairman and chief executive officer of Dimensions International.

Sentel has been working on integrated chemical and biological agent detection systems as part of the Defense Department's Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program and other initiatives. The company will become a subsidiary of Dimensions International with its chief executive officer James Garrett serving as divisional president.

Speaking about the deal, Wright and Garrett said the new company was well positioned to move further into homeland security and other areas.

"With our combined size, we can go after bigger contracts and go against bigger competitors," Wright said.

Garrett called the combined company a "one-stop shop" for government customers, with IT, logistics, engineering and high-end software development under one roof.

Both privately held companies were once 8(a) small businesses. Last year Dimensions International had revenues of $58 million; Sentel's revenues were $43 million.