SBIR-involved in the early years of the program, with primary operating centers in Burlington, MA, and Arlington, VA, CENTRA also has supported national and local programs with field offices located in a number of states. An employee-owned company led by an astronautical engineer, CENTRA expanded from applying skills to aerospace engineering issues to serving a broad range of clients with critical defense, intelligence, and security missions. With over 50 percent of staff holding advanced degrees and lomg sice having outgrown SBIR size requirments, the firm had minimal SBIR involvement but provided service in all branches of the US military, as well as work experience in the national security agencies of the US Government, academia, and industry. During 2020, the firm was acquired by Pacific Architects and Engineers (NASDAQ: PAE) with aview to strengthening PAE's intelligence, defense, and national and homeland security businesses.