Serving the needs of the naval airborneelectronic warfare (EW) community, Raven, Inc. is focused primarily on this business segment in the Naval Air Systems Command as well as developing a scientific, research and development relationship with the Naval Research Laboratory. In 1988, the company widened its focus and wonseveral professional and engineering service contracts in NAVAIR for the F-14 & E-2C aircraft, and the Harpoon Anti-ship Weapon System. Throughout this period, Raven's support to NAVAIR's EW programs continued, as embodied in its support for PMA-253 (REWSON), and later, after PMA-253 was decommissioned, PMA-272. Support to the NRL, in infrared phenomenology, instrumentation design, and measurements analysis, continued as well. In 1990, the two private founders of the company elected to divest themselves of ownership over a period of five years through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Each year during this period, the ESOP Trust purchased from the owners a large block of Raven Stock. The Trust then assigned the stock to individual employee accounts in amounts proportional to individual compensation. During the peak years of this program (1991, 1992, 1993), employees received amounts of stock equivalent to 25% of salary. The last payment made to the original founders for stock was completed in 1995, and they severed theirmanagement relationship with Raven permanently. Raven's support of Navy Electronic Warfare programs continues today with a strong presence in the Naval Air Systems Command and at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). However, the budgets for those areas have been decreasing yearly for a number of years. In reaction, and to broaden the company's business base, Raven undertook a program of diversification beginning in 1999. This program continues today.Highlights of the company's accomplishments in the past three years include:* In conjunction with Advanced Photonics International, designed, built, and sold an advanced infrared imaging microscope and continues to market this device internationally. * Under contract to the Army, redesign the Keystone recruiting/training management software, and migrated their current system to a modern, object oriented, client server environment. * Implemented a "leave donation" program in which employees may donate leave to others facing extended absence due to illness, etc. * Acquired its first patent for Medigard, a device to monitor heartbeat and respiration without connection to the patient * Continued development and marketing of its program management enhancements to the Dynamic Object Oriented Requirements System (DOORS). Work in this area continued for the Cruise Missile program as a subcontractor to McDonnell Douglas. * Acquired Planning, Inc., a company that provides retirement planning seminars for federal government customers. Planning, Inc. operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Raven, Inc. from its Rockville, Maryland location. * In conjunction with a partner, purchased and now operates a franchise of Sunbelt Business Brokers, which operates as Sunbelt Capital Group from Alexandria, Virginia. Sunbelt provides brokerage services for the sale of small, closely held businesses, as well as loan brokerage services for the small business community. * Acquired a new contract to provide engineering expertise for the Homeland Security effort at the National Security Agency * Established a minority interest in The Perfection Group, LLC formed to pursue federal contracts in professional services, construction, and maintenance under th
