FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Bob Kavetsky (301) 934-0385 rkavetsky@etcmd.com ETC RECEIVES FUNDING FOR POWER PROGRAM La Plata, Md., January 11, 2010 - Bob Kavetsky, Chief Executive Officer for the Energetics Technology Center, today announced the receipt of $100,000 from the Center for Energetic Concepts Development Director, Prof. Davinder K. Anand, to launch the PoWER Program for Southern Maryland. "Building upon a commitment of Dr. Rob Gates, Technical Director of NSWC Indian Head, to establish the Department of Navy's Wounded Veteran East Coast Pilot, the ETC is delighted to take the lead in launching this program for Southern Maryland," said Kavetsky. The Wounded Veteran Program is intended to help wounded veterans establish careers after leaving the service. The attributes that make them highly desirable to the defense labs include the fact that they possess the appropriate clearances, are familiar with this work and are not averse to performing it, they possess the technical training needed and are experienced end users of energetics materials, weapon systems, and other military systems. "The projected loss of experienced workers from the baby boom generation who will transition to retirement in the next five to ten years is a significant problem for the Navy and the Department of Defense," says Kavetsky. "This is aggravated by the shortage of scientists, engineers and technicians being produced that are capable of doing classified work. The Wounded Veteran initiative provides a partial solution is to this issue." The initial goals of this program for Southern Maryland will be to place veterans with combat-based injuries in meaningful, fulfilling work that challenges them and uses their skills and knowledge to the fullest extent possible and to create a vibrant center that directly supports veterans with disabilities by removing obstacles to workforce re-entry. In addition, it is expected that this program will build partnerships in the community to create pathways for permanent job placement for these veterans and become part of a national network for veteran job preparation and re-entry into the workforce. The Energetics Technology Center is a private, non-profit enterprise dedicated to growing science and technology in Southern Maryland. It focuses on workforce and economic development in the region and is a catalyst for energetics research and development. The Energetics Technology Center is currently based in La Plata, Maryland. # # #