Schwope Joins Battelle as Business Development Manager in Armor

Ohio State University Grad is Materials Science Expert


COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwire - March 18, 2010) -  Lee Ann Schwope has joined Battelle to help expand its armor and related defense and homeland security business.

As a business development manager for Battelle's Industrial & International Market Sector, Schwope will work with the U.S. Department of Defense as well as companies that develop and manufacture vehicles and components.

Battelle is a longtime developer of armor technology for tanks, personnel carriers and other vehicles. Battelle first became active in the armor business during World War II when the federal government sought its help to create improved armor plating for tanks. Today, Battelle has one of the few private research facilities that operates under a Tier 1 rating at its High Energy Research Laboratory. That accreditation allows Battelle to conduct Explosive Formed Projectile (EFP) testing using the government provided surrogate EFP devices for third-party armor developers.

The Tier 1 rating allows third-party developers to test prospective armor solutions under certification standards at a facility other than government facilities. However, final certification of armor solutions still takes place at the Aberdeen Test Center. 

Schwope joins Battelle from Solidica, an Ann Arbor, MI, inventor and manufacturer of wireless network sensors, composite armor, advanced materials and other products. At Solidica, Schwope lead the Advanced Materials Group focusing on titanium aluminde for blast armor. Schwope brings a background in technology transition from research to production, ISO 9001:2000 implementation and certification, as well as extensive Department of Defense contract management experience. Prior to joining the Solidica team, Ms. Schwope was one of the developers for a SAPI (Small Arms Protective Insert) armor technology program with Excera Materials Group in Columbus Ohio.

Schwope grew up in Orange County, north of New York City, and is a 2003 graduate in materials science from The Ohio State University.

Contact Information:

Media contacts: Katy Delaney at (614) 424-7208, .

Lee Ann Schwope will be a business development manager for Battelle's Industrial and International Market Sector.