FTI will open a secure facility to provide the Department of Defense (DoD) and mission partners with a secure collaborative environment, operational technologies, and deep mission expertise for developing space-related defense and operations solutions.

The Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has announced today that Frontier Technology Inc. (FTI), a leading provider of deep data expertise and mission-tailored services and solutions to the United States Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, has selected Colorado Springs for expansion. Here, FTI will open its secure Operational Research Bridge for Innovation & Technology (ORBIT Center) for industry and government partners.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231024276795/en/

From left to right: Randy Novobilski, Space Missions & Ground Services Executive, FTI; Shawna Lippert, Senior Economic Development Specialist, City of Colorado Springs; Yemi Mobolade, Mayor of Colorado Springs; Larry D. Jones, Senior Information Systems Engineer, FTI; Lincoln Hudson, Chief Operations Officer, FTI; Mike Vargas, Senior Information Systems Engineer, FTI; Nichole Rakoczy, Senior Process Analyst, FTI; Christine Pomorski, Director of Marketing & Communications, FTI; Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President & CEO, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC; Seth Pruett, Director of Project Management, Economic Development Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC (Photo: Business Wire)

“Colorado Springs possesses one of the most diversified and multidimensional, defense economies in the United States. Powered by a highly educated workforce, cutting-edge technologies, and a thriving ecosystem, Southern Colorado supports innovative technologies and growing companies,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President & CEO for Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. “We are excited about FTI’s business expansion, a boost to our space and defense sector, at the heart of national and global security.”

The 46,000-square-foot secure facility expands FTI’s current office footprint in Colorado Springs and will provide the Department of Defense and its mission partners with a Center of Excellence to foster collaboration and knowledge transfer in the space operations domain. Customers and partners will be supported by FTI’s deep mission data expertise, access to FTI’s vast library of operational technologies, and highly secure infrastructure for developing solutions enabling timely and actionable understanding of individual and joint space-related operational environments.

“FTI is proud to expand our space-related operations with the FTI ORBIT Center in Colorado Springs,” said Jose Hidalgo, president, FTI. “We’re pleased to have been awarded strong growth incentives by the City of Colorado Springs, and we look forward to increasing our investment and bringing hundreds of new, high-paying jobs to the local community over the next decade.”

FTI expects to invest $15 million in the new facility and operations, which will create 200 new well-paying jobs with an average annual salary of $131,000, in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, software engineering, advanced visualization, and cybersecurity. The FTI ORBIT Center is expected to begin operations by December 31, 2024.

“I am pleased to see companies like FTI grow within Colorado Springs’ vibrant space community and continue to provide world-class support to the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community,” said Congressman Doug Lamborn. “Current events prove that the Joint Force relies on the space domain to deter our adversaries and win our nation’s wars should deterrence fail. FTI’s $15 million, 200 job expansion showcases the vital role Colorado Springs plays in our national security. I look forward to seeing its contributions in the future.”

The Colorado Springs City Council approved up to $102,590 in performance-based incentives in the form of sales and use tax rebates on eligible purchases of construction materials, machinery, and equipment for FTI, over a 10-year period. These incentives are contingent upon the company, referred to as Project Star Trek throughout the City review process, meeting net new job creation and minimum capital investment requirements in Colorado Springs.

“We are grateful to be selected by FTI for this exciting expansion,” said Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade. “The company's decision to expand its operations to our city is a testament to our business-friendly environment, skilled workforce, exceptional quality of life, and strong defense economy to include space, aerospace, technology, and cybersecurity. As Mayor, I am committed to fostering an environment where companies like FTI can thrive, creating high-quality jobs and contributing to the economic growth of our community. We look forward to working closely with FTI as they integrate further into our community."

FTI currently employs 60 personnel in Colorado Springs and operates in 34 States and offers seven facilities of varying clearance levels nationwide.

About FTI Operations Research Bridge for Innovation & Technology (ORBIT) Center

As a Center of Excellence dedicated to Space, this FTI facility presents an unparalleled opportunity for government, industry and academia to collaborate, drive innovation and advance mission capabilities critical to maintaining our country’s global leadership in space. Our primary focus is to support key strategic imperatives identified by U.S. Space Force leadership and the broader space community, aligned with their vision for accelerated progress in six core areas:

Development of Greater Space Domain Awareness

To provide sophisticated space situational awareness, event prediction and object tracking.

Collaboration, Innovation and Integration

To facilitate joint military operations, fostering collaboration, understanding of capabilities and limitations, relationship building, and the development of joint operational concepts within the space domain.

Strategic Planning

Simulation, and exploration of scenarios related to offensive and defensive capabilities.

Training and Education

FTI’s platform will support training and education for space operators and decision-makers to enhance knowledge, skills, and judgment related to space operations.

Capability Assessment

To allow partners to assess their space capabilities, identify strengths, weaknesses, and gaps, and evaluate the readiness, interoperability, and effectiveness of space assets, systems and personnel. Supports investment decisions and resource allocation to enhance space domain operations.

Risk Analysis and Mitigation

Through simulated threat scenarios and risk assessments, partners will gain a better understanding of potential consequences and vulnerabilities in the space domain to guide development of effective mitigation strategies, improve resilience, and enhance the protection of space-based assets.

FTI’s core technology offerings include:

Advanced Analytics: Predictive analytics, sophisticated AI algorithms, and comprehensive data collection and processing to enhance Space Domain Awareness. FTI’s strengths in collecting, processing, and fully exploiting all available data sources, ensures rapid and secure dissemination of operationally relevant information.

Data Synthesis and Analysis: Synthesize, fuse, and analyze large volumes of data from diverse sources, enabling comprehensive and accurate insights into the space environment.

Advanced Cyber Capabilities: FTI’s cyber capabilities enhance awareness of blue, red, and grey activities. Analyze platforms, weapon systems, installations, mission-critical infrastructure, and conduct advanced cyber threat assessments.

Mission Simulators and Training Environments: Mission simulators, wargaming, scenario orchestration, digital twin technologies, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), automation, and synthetic test and training environments to facilitate realistic training and readiness assessments.

About FTI

FTI provides deep data expertise, technology and services that enhance the ability of the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community and other agencies of the Federal Government to make the best decisions possible. Drawing on nearly four decades of innovation, FTI’s extensive portfolio of intellectual property and operational technologies has been augmented by more than $200 million of U.S. government investment, and solutions can often be mission-ready in a matter of weeks. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, FTI operates in 34 states and offers seven facilities of varying clearance levels nationwide. More at www.ftidefense.com.

About the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation

Serving as the area’s largest chamber of commerce and economic development organization, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC works to build and maintain a superior business climate in which companies of all kinds can thrive. It supports existing and future local businesses to fuel a diverse economy and high quality of life. Learn more at www.ColoradoSpringsChamberEDC.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231024276795/en/