Verus Research announces the award of a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract in support of Department of Defense Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office (JIFCO). This program focuses on an emerging need to provide a “Broadband Counter-Electronics Weapon (BCEW) for Long-Range Non-Lethal Vehicle/Vessel Stopping.”

In this work, Verus Research will develop a more compact and lightweight long-range counter-electronic vehicle/vessel stopping system to employ non-lethal means to stop relevant vehicles and vessels, thereby mitigating a codified joint non-lethal weapon capability gap. The U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army, and U.S. Marine Corprs are all interested in the outcome of this research, especially if a solution can be presented with significantly reduced overall system size, weight, power consumption, and thermal cooling needs, as well as lower system costs. Existing radio frequency (RF) vehicle and vessel stopping systems have known range and system size and weight limitations and could be replaced by the outcome of this important effort.

Dr. J. Mark DelGrande, Verus Research Chief Technology Officer, noted the Company’s pride in “continuing our relationship with the JIFCO by bringing cutting edge directed energy solutions this important defense requirement.”

Verus Research has won a Phase I small business innovative research (SBIR) contract to support the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).  Leveraging multiple machine learning and algorithm development efforts at Verus Research, the program will employ efficient machine learning algorithms to facilitate information fusion of radiation detector data.

The objective of the project is to improve radiation detection capabilities by developing networked radiation detection algorithms based on the fusion of multiple and varied raw outputs from detectors deployed across a complex, one square kilometer scene.  In this phase, Verus Research will identify algorithms that can support the fusion of raw detector outputs into usable information and demonstrate the potential of these algorithms to improve the localization, identification, and characterization of radioactive sources.  When successful, this will allow the evaluation of multiple candidate algorithms for eventual down-selection to the most promising ones for further development in an eventual Phase II program.

Verus Research has won a Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract to support the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate.  The $750,000, 2-year effort builds on prior Verus Research work and focuses on spacecraft fault detection, identification, and causation using machine learning.  This new program will seek to develop the ability for a spacecraft to self-diagnose the root causes of on-board anomalies and develop potential mitigation paths.

To meet this need, Verus Research will deliver AFMaR, (Autonomous Fault Monitoring and Recovery) software that can be installed on board a spacecraft and connected to the vehicle’s telemetry systems to process faults and identify recovery strategies.  AFMaR will increase spacecraft resilience and responsiveness while reducing the manpower required for mission operations and monitoring.  It is also structured to provide “trusted autonomy,” enabling independent spacecraft action that is reliably conducted in a safe manner.

Verus Research is proud to note the recent award of a $1.8 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate.  The 3-year effort is PANTHER:  Position And Navigation Threats Heuristic Engagement simulator.

The effort connects three Verus Research technical domains:  electronic warfare (EW), space and autonomy, and software development and applications with the goal of maintaining U.S. electromagnetic spectrum superiority in space by assessing potential threats to satellite position, navigation, and timing (PNT) signals.

This program is the Company’s first direct effort with the Distributed Mission Operations Center (DMOC) which is located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and is operated by Air Combat Command’s 705th Combat Training Squadron.  In the DMOC, large-scale, virtual environments allow the Air Force to run wargame campaigns and learn how friendly and adversary units will act and respond during high-stakes operations.

Verus Research will develop PANTHER to help the Air Force better understand the EW environment, how PNT is affected by adversaries, the implications of PNT-denial on multi-agent mission/engagement-level scenarios, how to mitigate such effects, how to offensively counter our adversaries, and finally how to develop and test less vulnerable PNT technologies.

The multi-disciplinary approach being used on this program is a testament to the Verus Research “one team” culture, bringing together the best solutions from across the Company to solve our customers’ most difficult technical problems.

Verus Research has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract from the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) for “Optimized Waveforms for X-Band Missile-Defense Radars.”  The objective of the MDA effort is to research and develop X-band waveforms that are both producible and optimal for missile-defense applications by leveraging the current state-of-the-art in commercially available radar electronics.

To meet MDA’s needs, Verus Research will leverage its extensive background in high power microwave effects modeling and simulation, test, and assessment. The program will develop bench-top hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) simulator architectures which incorporate state-of-the-art physics-based models. These architectures will then test, validate, and quantify the performance of novel radar waveforms in simulated operational environments during many-on-many (MoM) engagement interaction scenarios.

This is Verus Research’s first contract from MDA.  Chief Technology Officer Dr. J. Mark DelGrande noted “it’s exciting to see new customers come to Verus Research for the creation of novel solutions that matter.”

Verus Research announces the promotions of Fred Rahmer to senior director of its Sensors and Instrumentation Group, and Launi DeYoung to director of human resources.  In his new role, Rahmer will lead the organization’s programs in applied electronics, space, autonomy, and electronic warfare.  In her new role, DeYoung will manage the organization’s human resources division and will work across the company to identify and address topics ranging from human resources policy to cultural issues, and more.

“We are thrilled to promote Fred and Launi to help lead our award-winning team,” said Grady Patterson, chief executive officer of Verus Research.  “Both individuals have rich backgrounds in their respective fields and will provide the type of leadership that we strive for at Verus Research.  As a rapidly growing company, we always seek to provide an extraordinary work environment for our people and exceptional customer experience for our clients.  These two professionals will help us continue to meet those expectations.”

Rahmer has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, including the design, development, and implementation of indoor and outdoor testing elements.  Promoted from his position as technical director for directed energy test & evaluation at Verus Research, he was previously a program manager and team lead at SAIC and Leidos where he worked to plan and manage blast mitigation tests throughout the country.  He also has experience with high-power microwave systems and was previously the deployment lead and program manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s MAXPOWER system.  Rahmer received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lemoyne College in Syracuse, New York.

DeYoung has more than 20 years of experience in human resources, organizational design, and leadership development.  She has worked with a wide variety of clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 organizations.  Prior to joining Verus Research in her previous role as human resources manager, she owned and operated her own consulting firm, OrgWorks LLC.  Her firm worked with a variety of important clients including the U.S. Forest Service, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  Earlier, she spent nearly 15 years with Boeing Defense Systems working in human resources and leadership development roles.  DeYoung holds a master of science degree in organizational development from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.  She has previously served on the board of Human Resources Association of New Mexico as vice president of communications and was president of the Rio Grande/Northern New Mexico Industrial Liaison Group.  DeYoung is also a Society for Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional.

In response to a need for “quick reaction capabilities” to help counter the growing threat posed by opposing forces’ unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), Verus Research has been selected to enhance its existing Directed Energy System Placement Analysis (DESPA) capability.

DESPA is a counter-UAS weapon mission planning tool that depicts the engagement of high-power microwave (HPM) systems against UAS targets in a 3-dimensional scene, with user controls to add, locate, and orient any available HPM sources. DESPA provides immediate visual cues to indicate first-order estimates of weapon range to effect and collateral damage potential. It provides controls for moving the HPM sources so that users can see in real time how the HPM coverage may change based on the number and placement of HPM weapons. Further, it has an automated interface to Verus Research’s Joint RF Effectiveness Model (JREM) which allows users to perform more detailed propagation analysis and generate second-order collateral damage estimates.

The new $450,000, 1-year effort awarded under Verus Research’s existing Test & Evaluation Non-Kinetic (TEN-K) contract will tailor DEPSA for test and evaluation (T&E) purposes and is called ElectroMagnetic Interactive Tool for Test & Evaluation of Rf Systems or EMITTERS.  EMITTERS will include tailored capabilities to support T&E of counter-UAS systems and the testing of HPM weapons. Its expanded capabilities will include an interactive, 3-dimensional view of outdoor effects testing and pre-defined scenarios for HPM test sites. It will model dynamic engagements and support export of artifacts for test planning and safety assessments, including hazard zones, effectiveness, and collateral damage.

As HPM systems begin to make their way into the battlespace, it will be increasingly important to quickly assess how well these systems will perform and identify any hazards they may pose. These Verus Research tools will be key to ensuring safe and effective operation of these new weapon systems.

Verus Research received its first-ever contract award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) with the Waveform Agile RF Directed Energy (WARDEN) contract. Should all options be exercised, this $5 million, 48-month effort seeks to develop hardware, theory, and computational models to extend the range and effectiveness of high-power microwave (HPM) systems for back-door attacks.

The contract scope specifically addresses electromagnetic interactions with electronics contained within enclosures and the effects on system operation. Planned research will leverage recent test methodologies and modeling approaches and extend them to broader classes of target systems to create a physics-based computational framework for the prediction of HPM effects.

To meet DARPA’s requirements as well as address the key questions delineated above, Verus Research will leverage our over three decades experience in researching and modeling the fundamental physical factors which govern the nonlinear, back-door interaction of high-power radio frequency (RF) emissions with complicated electronic systems of interest. This concentrated, effects-based effort will help guide the development of new HPM systems by extending their range and effectiveness and providing new HPM employment approaches for the Department of Defense.

The program is planned to deliver on an integrated approach across multiple Verus Research domains by using machine learning techniques in conjunction with RF predictive effects to devise more effective HPM waveforms.

For the sixth consecutive year, Verus Research earned a prominent place on the list of New Mexico’s fastest growing technology companies.

The Flying 40 awards, which launched in 1998, celebrate the success of the homegrown firms included on the annual list, while also drawing the state’s attention to the critical role New Mexico’s technology sector plays in diversifying the local economy.  To be considered for inclusion, company growth is measured over five years, from 2016 through 2020.

This year, Verus Research earned a spot on two lists, placing #8 among the top 10 firms in total revenue. Additionally, Verus Research checked in at #4 on the list of top 10 revenue growth rates for businesses with more than $10M in revenue.

The awards are sponsored by the Sandia Science and Technology Park Development Corp.  You can find complete coverage of this year’s honorees in the Albuquerque Journal by visiting these links: (https://www.abqjournal.com/2430764/flying-40-awardees.html) and (https://www.abqjournal.com/2430765/flying-40-climb-to-new-heights.html).

Today’s Albuquerque Journal business section covered Verus Research’s move into our newest lab site at 45 Hotel Circle NE, including the establishment of an all-new anechoic chamber at the location.

We invite you to see the coverage to learn more.