Lockheed opens biometrics center in West Virginia

Lockheed Martin has opened a Biometric Experimentation and Advanced Concepts Center in White Hall, W.Va.

Officials said the 6,000 square-foot Beacon facility will serve as a collaborative center for Lockheed Martin, its customers, academics and other industry partners. They can use the center's space and resources to develop integrated biometrics solutions for current and future initiatives.

"Biometric technology offers great promise for the future, especially in initiatives that are important to the security of our nation," said Judy Marks, president of transportation and security solutions at Lockheed Martin.

The facility, located in West Virginia's High Technology Corridor, will be staffed by domain experts and highly trained specialists in service-oriented architecture and biometric technology.

The company is also actively soliciting solutions providers to integrate into Lockheed Martin's service-oriented biometric framework and extensive testing. The center is linked to Lockheed Martin's Global Vision Network, which connects engineering and laboratories in Suffolk, Va.; Utah; Orlando, Fla.; and Rockville, Md.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people and had $39.6 billion in revenue in 2006. The company ranks No. 1 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest government prime contractors.