General Dynamics Contract Could Spark More Growth
 Michael Tweed-Kent, vice president of Integrated Combat Systems, said a Navy contract could steer more contracts Pittsfield's way. |
"We do think we could become a center of excellence for innovative, open-architecture combat systems here in the Berkshires," said Michael Tweed-Kent, vice president and general manager of Integrated Combat Systems at General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.
The company, in partnership with Austal USA, was awarded a contract for 10 Littoral Combat Ships on top of two previous ones. There is the potential for bidding on another 30 ships.
General Dynamics isn't building the ships, it's building their information and electrical systems.
"Everything that's electronic on the ship we do. We integrate every system, provide the software that controls all the systems and it's fully automated," Tweed-Kent told the 270 Berkshire Chamber of Commerce members filling the Berkshire Hills Country Club on Wednesday morning for the monthly Good News Business Salute. "You could almost describe it as a 'fly by wire' ship if you think about the jets that exist today."
The company leveraged commercial advances to provide an integrated systems platform that will allow four sailors to operate the ship from a bridge similar to that of the fictional USS Enterprise starship or from any point in the vessel.
Tweed-Kent said the platform could be utilized by other naval vessels, from the Coast Guard to foreign navies. The division is also working on the Ohio-class submarines. Between the two high-priority contracts, General Dynamics in Pittsfield should not only be able to weather the tail end of the recession and coming budget cuts but be positioned to take full advantage of the market when the economy turns around.
"Sales will come about as this program matures," he said. "There are a number of navies around the world that have been watching the U.S. who will move out now that the U.S. has made a decision of what they're going to do with the ships."
The company has already hired 30 new employees, a few from the Pittsfield area, and expects to add more than 200 by the end of the year through recruitment and job fairs around the Northeast. Most of the jobs are in engineering, although it is also seeking technicians and specialists in contracts and finance. Tweed-Kent said the division has doubled in size over the decade and should grow 50 percent again within the next five.
Tweed-Kent credited that success in the company's reconfiguring from a classical organizational structure and its consideration of what type of leadership it wanted, and what investment should be made in that leadership.
"It's not about management and about unions," he said. "It's about the competition and how do we come together collectively as a team to provide innovative products to help us win in the marketplace."
Chamber President Michael Supranowicz, who joked that what General Dynamics actually does "is as closely guarded as the recipe for Cocoa-Cola, Crane paper" but it would have an effect on everyone in the room — from Realtors to retailers.
Tweed-Kent credited elected officials in working to secure the contract and the changes in Pittsfield that created a community that will help attract highly skilled employees.
"Frankly, we're here today because of Mayor Ruberto's leadership," he said, and told chamber members to give themselves some applause. "Know that you're making a difference for our business. We couldn't do it without you; we're indebted to you for that and we'll continue to try to do our part to give back to the community."
The emcee for the breakfast was Gary Schiff, vice president and senior portfolio manager of TD Wealth Management. The sponsor was TD Banknorth.
The chamber welcomed 30 new members and saluted:
• Classical Tents for its 25 years providing "coverage" for weddings, parties and other events.
• Home Instead Senior Care for 10 years of providing personal and home care to more than a 1,000 seniors.
• Mildred Elley School for 20 years of providing business and medical technical education and retraining for area residents of all ages, growing from 30 students to 250 and in nine programs.
• UCP of Berkshire County, which began as a grassroots group of concerned parents and has expanded over the past 50 years to offer programs to 2,400 children, adults and their families suffering from a range of disabilities.
