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Charleston Post and Courier: The winner is ...

Submitted by: John Warner on May 30, 2011 at 11:34 am Tagged with: Defense, Mobility Source: Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic

Article originally published at the Post and Courier.

Defense won the day for a big military unit based on the Naval Weapons Station.

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic nabbed an inaugural award created to recognize 'high-impact' collaborative efforts around the Southeast for its work with numerous military and private-sector entities to prepare 24,000 armored trucks for combat.

SPAWAR, a potent source of high-tech defense jobs in the Charleston region, was presented with InnoVenture's Przirembel Prize earlier this month at Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research in Greenville.

SPAWAR played a key role in getting the mine-resistant trucks ready for battle by outfitting them with electronic equipment. Many of the vehicles in question were manufactured in Ladson by Force Protection Inc. Up to 900 local SPAWAR workers and contractors then installed in nearly two dozen configurations all sorts of devices, from communications gear to surveillance and reconnaissance systems. Production peaked at 75 vehicles a day.

The award is named for Chris Przirembel, a former Clemson vice president for research and economic development.