Huntsville-based deciBel Research announced Tuesday it is “100 percent employee-owned.”

According to a news release, the company transitioned from a privately held, small business to an employee-owned company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, effective Jan. 1.

Jeff Gronberg, deciBel Research Chief Executive Officer, will continue to lead deciBel Research and the company’s day-to-day management and operations will remain the same.

“deciBel Research is proud to transition to an employee-owned company,” Gronberg said. “In our industry we see many small businesses being acquired by private equity firms or larger corporations as owners execute their succession plan. Often, small businesses become large businesses due to these transactions, thus impacting the status of the business, current contracts and customers, and causing a fundamental change in the culture and business development efforts.

“Our employees are the heart of the company’s success and we felt it was in the best interest of both our employees and customers for us to share that success with them and become an employee-owned company.”

DeciBel Research is a radar system and sensor technologies company was founded in 2002. It’s headquartered in Cummings Research Park and has offices in Dayton, Ohio; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Wallops Island, Va.

“We have witnessed some great successes in our industry with employee-owned companies and we believe the timing is right to evolve the company to benefit both our customers and especially our current and future employees,” said deciBel Chief Financial and Operating Officer Eric Cochran. “We have positioned the company for future opportunities, and this is another critical piece in making deciBel Research a long-term small business partner for the DoD and intelligence community.”