Nonprofit science and technology organization Noblis celebrated the expansion of its Huntsville office on last Thursday with a ribbon cutting and open house, which featured demonstrations of its different areas of expertise and opportunities to talk to a variety of company experts.

Formed in 1996 as a spin-off of the nonprofit R & D-focused MITRE Corporation, the company is based in Reston, VA but has a growing presence in Huntsville.

With only about 2,000 employees in total nationwide, Noblis’s Huntsville office has proven successful, outgrowing its previous location after only two years of operation in the city. Now located in a 10,000 square foot space at 620 Discovery Drive NW #2 in Cummings Research Park, Noblis’s Huntsville facility’s areas of expertise include 5G network modeling, artificial intelligence and machine learning, biosensors, cyber innovation research, model-based systems engineering, and unmanned aircraft systems.

One of the innovations developed by Noblis researchers is a field-portable DNA sequencing system, which allows experts in the field to produce rapid genomics data for the purpose of national defense, homeland security, and bio surveillance operations. Applications include the detection of specific Covid strains in local populations. Rather than shipping off samples to laboratories, the battery-powered kit can detect pathogens on site within 3.5 hours, allowing much more rapid response.

Because much of Noblis’s expertise is geared toward federal agencies, it is well suited to the Huntsville market. Its Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning solutions cover a variety of functions in five different domains, serving clients fulfilling civil, defense, intel and law enforcement, and homeland security missions for the nation.

Tasks undertaken by this division include automating and submitting federal grant applications, managing acquisitions, monitoring U.S. Naval ship maintenance, and analyzing data in near-real time for use in everything from supply chain management to counterterrorism.

Noblis has a highly competitive internship program in place, which according to Senior Marketing and Communications Executive Heather Williams has won several awards.

“It’s a very competitive program–this year we had 10,000 applicants, so as you can imagine it’s very difficult to select. I think this year we had close to…75 [interns]. This year we had immense growth in that program and we’re looking to grow the program even more,” said incoming CEO Mile Corrigan.

Following the open house, event guests enjoyed a spread of heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Bubba’s Silver Spoon Catering, followed by addresses by company leaders and Mayor Battle.

From left to right: Noblis’s incoming CEO Mile Corrigan, Huntsville City Mayor Tommy Battle, Greg Brown, Glenn Hickok, VP Noblis Defense Mission and President, Noblis MSD and Mikros Systems.

Glenn Hickok, Vice President of Noblis Defense Mission and President of Noblis MSD and Mikros Systems, kicked off the ribbon cutting segment, expressing his appreciation for the city of Huntsville and the support of Mayor Battle, with “his priorities about research and development in science in technology across cyber, across energy, across bio.”

“I want to echo Glenn’s sentiment and appreciation for Mayor Battle and the Huntsville Chamber. We’re so thrilled and excited to be here with you,” said Corrigan. “As an innovator for the federal government for over 25 years, we’re so proud of our science and technology heritage and we are committed to advancing our national interest and advancing the federal government mission.”

“I’m so excited to introduce Mayor Battle–he’s been an outstanding leader in the community. We know that he’s contributed significantly to building and diversifying the economic base here in Huntsville and our presence is a testament to that. Obviously, Huntsville has been an outstanding innovation and collaboration hub and we’re so proud to be a part of it,” Corrigan continued.

Mayor Battle emphasized the role of the Huntsville community’s collaborative efforts to create centers of excellence across the city, noting that Noblis already has a lot of friends in the community that want to do business with it.

“Thank y’all for your investment in Huntsville–we look forward to the future. This is a great start…we’re so glad to have you here.”