Tucked away in the rolling hills of Clarksburg, WV, lies a state-of-the-art, high-tech hub that most West Virginians know little about. The hub houses the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division and is central to combatting crime and terrorism—playing a critical role in helping strengthen national security.
It’s all about connection and problem solving at retired Air Force Colonel Sean Frisbee’s company, Vertx Partners, as the company president and his lean staff encourage Appalachian high-tech researchers and entrepreneurs to broaden their view and look to the sky for economic opportunities that provide innovative security measures for the nation.
“I believe West Virginia is poised to make the defense industry the second most profitable industry in the state,” says Eric Clark, federal contractor and defense liaison for the West Virginia Department of Economic Development.
In today’s world, it is uncommon for anyone to experience a day untouched by the cyber industry. For many, information technology (IT) infiltrates most aspects of life, beginning the moment they wake up to their cellphone alarm and continuing throughout the day while working, shopping, banking and interacting with the modern world online.
To the average person, national defense calls to mind images of men and women in uniform training in physical combat, perhaps with weapons or intense conditioning. However, the modern defense of the U.S. and its assets is more complex and multifaceted than ever before.
West Virginia is full of unsung heroes tirelessly pursuing justice and rights for all. Leaders in the legal community are making a difference in lives nationwide, and this is made evident by acknowledging those paving the way.