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McClellan AFB Closes, but Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) Remains Open - May 18, 2001 For More Information: McClellan AFB officially closes on Friday, July 13, 2001, but a key Department of Defense (DOD) tenant, DMEA, will remain "in place" to continue performing its vital mission. DMEA is charged with keeping the microelectronics components of key weapons systems in the DOD inventory operational and technologically current. In fact, DMEA's mission was deemed so vital to our national defense that in 1995, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) was convinced to leave DMEA open at its present location while at the same time closing the rest of the base. Their new flexible foundry is unique in allowing production of small batches of integrated circuits and changing processes used in producing these parts in short periods of time. The foundry and the other microelectronics capabilities at DMEA are valuable assets to the nation and to the Sacramento community. On a national level, DMEA prevents obsolescence of DOD systems by enabling the use of state-of-the-art commercial technologies to replace microelectronics components that are no longer supportable, with minimal changes to the associated software. Not only is DMEA's work significant to all services within DOD, they also provide support to NASA, the Department of Transportation, NATO countries, the FAA, as well as dual-use customers from the commercial sector. DMEA procures over $120 million in goods and services each year. On the local level this has an additional economic impact of over $100 million when you factor in salaries and apply a reasonable 2.5 economic compounding factor. Last month, the Acting Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. Lawrence J. Delaney and General Lester Lyles, Commander, Air Force Materiel Command visited DMEA. These two key leaders were able to see, first hand, the capabilities at the applied laboratory. They also learned about the expertise available to solve problems of diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages (DMSMS) related to microelectronics. General Lyles who supervises program managers who deal with DMSMS problems on a daily basis had this to say during his tour of DMEA's facility: "The cutting-edge work they are doing is absolutely amazing." DMEA, a viable asset to the nation, as well as
a prized member of the Sacramento region, is positioned to become the
key anchor of a high technology Business and Research Center at the
McClellan Business Park. [ Back to Top ] |
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