Sparks, Nev., June 12, 2014 – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announces it has selected Craig Technologies of Cape Canaveral, Florida, to join its expanding list of 'Dream Team' organizations selected to support SNC's Dream Chaser® program. SNC is developing the Dream Chaser spacecraft as a commercial transportation vehicle to low-Earth orbit. Craig Technologies will provide multiple contracted products and services to SNC. The announcement was made at a press conference today at Craig Technologies Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing Center in Cape Canaveral.
Craig Technologies' first contract is to work with SNC engineers to design and develop a critical part of the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) known as the cradle, a mechanical device used to lift, transport and rotate the Dream Chaser spacecraft during processing. SNC chose to team with Craig Technologies on its Dream Chaser program because of their depth of human spaceflight experience coupled with their end-to-end design-to-production capability including specialty manufacturing, precision machining and fabrication, and test and evaluation services, as well as materials requirement planning and supply chain management systems.
"Today is the start of a relationship that can grow substantially as a continuation of our expansion in Florida" said Mark N. Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC's Space Systems. "We are pleased to have Carol (Craig) and her company join forces as part of our Dream Team, which includes top tier companies in over 30 states. Craig Technologies' strong engineering capabilities and outstanding facilities along with their company values and passion are an ideal fit for SNC and our Dream Chaser program. We look forward to exploring ways in which we can continue to work together, returning jobs to the Space Coast and continuing our commitment to small business."
In support of Craig Technologies continual growth as a leading U.S.-Owned, Minority-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO), Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), SNC has agreed to sponsor Craig in a mentor-protégé relationship, supporting a common vision of providing each of SNC's and Craig Technologies' customers with agile, innovative and cost-effective solutions from a richly diverse and passionately dedicated workforce, all committed to making history.
Craig Technologies recently invested in the renovation of an existing 161,000 square foot facility in Cape Canaveral. The company leveraged NASA's investment by utilizing the heritage space shuttle depot facility formerly occupied by United Space Alliance and converting it to office and manufacturing space, including the latest high tech, high precision, manufacturing equipment.
"To partner with the SNC Dream Team who marries 'innovation with passion for the mission' provides us an opportunity to fulfill our vision to further strengthen the Space Coast community," said Carol Craig, founder and CEO, Craig Technologies. "We are fortunate to be given this opportunity to help act as a bridge between the world-class manned spaceflight infrastructure that is the Cape Canaveral legacy and the next generation, cutting-edge spacecraft made possible by the dynamic innovation of commercial enterprise. It's an honor to be a part of the Dream Chaser Dream Team."
Dream Chaser provides the only reusable, human-rated lifting-body spacecraft with a commercial runway landing capability, anywhere in the world, and is on the forefront of the commercial human spaceflight industry, offering safe, reliable and cost-effective crew and critical cargo transportation to low-Earth orbit. Dream Chaser is a multi-mission capable spacecraft that has the ability to operate as an independent science platform, or as a logistics vehicle to retrieve, repair, replace, assemble or deploy items in space.
About Craig Technologies
Founded in 1999 by CEO Carol Craig, Craig Technologies is a U.S.-Owned, Minority-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO), Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) that is ISO 9001/AS9100 Certified and ITAR compliant. Growing Craig Technologies from one person in 1999 to nearly 400 associates and $42M in revenues today, Craig leads nationwide operations with associates in over 20 different states with offices in Huntsville, Alabama and Orlando, Florida.
Craig Technologies supports projects from concept to real-world application with end-users in mind. Our wide scope of award-winning engineering and technical solutions include Software Design/Development, Systems Engineering, Multidisciplinary Engineering, Training and Courseware Development, Modeling & Simulation, IT Support, and Integrated Logistics Support. More information can be found at http://www.craigtechinc.com.
About Craig Technologies Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing Center (ADMC)
Under the direction of President Mark Mikolajczyk, Craig Technologies' nationally-recognized Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing Center (ADMC) is ISO 9001/AS9100 Certified and ITAR compliant and offers a unique end-to-end design-to-production capability that includes specialty manufacturing, custom avionics, precision machining and fabrication, and test and evaluation services. We engineer, design, prototype, manufacture and test a wide variety of mission-critical systems for a diverse range of customers all under one roof in our 161,000 square foot Cape Canaveral facility that is supported with over 2,000 pieces of specialty manufacturing and test equipment, experienced engineers, and certified technicians. More information can be found at http://www.ctadmc.com.
About Sierra Nevada Corporation's Space Systems
Sierra Nevada Corporation's Space Systems business area based in Louisville, Colorado, designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft, space vehicles, rocket motors and spacecraft subsystems and components for the U.S. Government, commercial customers as well as for the international market. SNC's Space Systems has more than 25 years of space heritage and has participated in over 400 successful space missions through the delivery of over 4,000 systems, subsystems and components. During its history, SNC's Space Systems has concluded over 70 programs for NASA and over 50 other clients. For more information about SNC's Space Systems visit www.sncspace.com and follow us at Facebook.com/SNCSpaceSystems.
About Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, is one of America's fastest growing private companies based on its significant expansion and reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions in electronics, aerospace, avionics, space, propulsion, micro-satellite, aircraft, communications systems and solar energy. Under the leadership of CEO Fatih Ozmen and President Eren Ozmen, SNC has a workforce of over 3,000 personnel in 30 locations in 16 states. SNC's six unique business areas are dedicated to providing leading-edge solutions to SNC's dynamic customer base.
SNC is also the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the United States. Over the last 30 years under the Ozmen's leadership, SNC has remained focused on providing its customers the very best in diversified technologies to meet their needs and has a strong and proven track record of success. The company continues to focus its growth also on the commercial sector through internal advancements in dual-use applications and outside acquisitions, including the emerging markets of renewable energy, telemedicine, nanotechnology, cyber and net-centric operations. For more information on SNC visit www.sncorp.com and follow us at Facebook.com/SierraNevadaCorporation.