AITC Open House/Ribbon Cutting Celebration

Leading IT Systems Integrator Opens Southwest Regional Headquarters to Better Serve Clients

AITC opened its new Southwest Regional Headquarters in August. The company, whose main office is in Winter Springs, Florida, makes this expansion on the heels of securing a major United States Army contract: Total Engineering and Integration Services (TEIS IV) and more in development.

AITC made the $3.5M investment to expand additional office space located just outside of Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, AZ.

“We are very deliberate about our growth strategy, keeping the needs of our clients on the forefront of every decision,” says David E. Gardner, AITC’s CEO. “Expanding our reach to Arizona and specifically the Sierra Vista area allows us to better support our Fort Huachuca contracts while serving existing and future clients throughout the region.”

Previously, the Department of Army, Army Materiel Command (AMC), Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), and U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command (USAISEC), awarded AITC a contract for information systems engineering and information technology support services. The Total Engineering and Integration Services (TEIS IV) contract is an $800M five-year duration IDIQ contract.

“Our new Southwest Regional Headquarters is a win-win for Government customers current and future and provides AITC with the flexibility to better serve our customer requirements worldwide,” says Larry Singer, AITC’s Chief of Business Development.

“In addition to providing expanded and modern office space for our Sierra Vista employees and several team members, our new facilities will also serve as a technology hub to showcase the latest technology and solutions AITC offers its customers,” says Gabriel Ruiz, AITC’s President.

Local officials Matt McLachlan, AICP, Community Development Director, City of Sierra Vista and Mignonne Hollis, Executive Director, Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation worked with AITC to make this expansion possible.

AITC has been recognized for its fast growth, recently it earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list (ranking No. 2054) and also on the Inc. Regionals Southeast list (ranking at No. 66). The company also graduated from the SBA’s 8(a) program in May as it continues its growth trajectory.

AITC Ribbon Cutting

Photo Credit: Wild Honey Photo Company

AITC Exits 8(a) SBA Program

Program Has Helped Propel Company into Next Phase of Growth

Building upon successful years of rapid growth, AITC has officially “graduated” from the United States Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) program at the end of May 2022.

The 8(a) program is geared to help entrepreneurs launch, grow, and graduate their companies into a successful small business firm. The program provides the tools and knowledge needed to compete for contracts in the open market.

Since its inception in 2006, AITC has evolved from its humble beginnings. The company was founded by former military veteran, Gabriel Ruiz, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. He and his wife Sandra Ruiz have spearheaded AITC to grow from a small family-owned business to a well-respected, major international enterprise. The 8(a) graduation is a celebration of Gabriel Ruiz and Sandra Ruiz’ hard work and commitment to establish, maintain, and grow AITC as an exemplary small business.

In the past 24 months, AITC has been awarded approximately $2B in DoD contracts. The company has expanded its success by moving into international markets including South Korea, Belgium, Germany, Uruguay, and Fiji. AITC also supports the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) 2030 Transformation program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“Being part of the SBA’s 8(a) program has assisted AITC with growing and succeeding as a small business. As we transitioned through the years of working outside of the federal government, it prepared our company for the next sphere of success and helped to solidify our core strengths to attract large-scale contracts that have a global reach and impact,” says Gabe Ruiz, AITC President.

Company Milestones:

In 2012 AITC was accepted into the 8(a) Program. Since then, these were some of the successful 8(a) efforts achieved during the 10-year program period:

1. AITC received its first 8(a) contract to support the U.S. Army and VA Medical Simulation Logistics efforts operating a 33,000-sf facility to support more than 100 VA Medical Clinics

2. The U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command (ISEC) awarded AITC an 8(a) Top Secret contract to provide Audio Visual Engineering support in South Korea.

3. The U.S. Navy awarded AITC a Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) contract for worldwide logistics and technology support.

4. AITC received a Defense Health Agency (DHA) contract to provide Medical Simulation engineering and support to the NATO Allied Centre for Medical Education (ACME), Belgium.

5. FT Buchanan, P.R. awarded AITC an Engineering Support contract to support the Department of Public Work (DPW).

6. FT Jackson, S.C. awarded AITC a contract to provide Information Technology Engineering and Cyber Security support.

7. PEO STRI awarded AITC a Medical Simulation contract for IT, Cyber Security and engineering support at Joint Base San Antonio’s Medical School’ Transport Medical Training Lab.

8. U.S. Forest Services awarded AITC three contracts over three years to provide close to $8M in IT equipment.

9. The U.S. Department of State awarded AITC a contract for the procurement and delivery of IT equipment to Honduras.

10. AITC received a contract from the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (ICoE) at FT Huachuca, AZ, to provide Military Intelligence personnel for critical mission support.

“These are just a few of the countless efforts AITC received during the program. We leveraged the opportunities afforded under the SBA’s 8(a) program by pursuing and receiving countless contracts. These contracts provided critical lessons learned, past performance, and the financial platform for the implementation of systems, processes, and personnel to allow AITC to effectively compete and succeed outside of the 8(a) program. AITC is forever grateful to the countless advisors, mentors, customers, partners, and employees who made this journey a success. Words of advice, if we could do it, others can too!” says Ruiz.

The successful program graduation also signifies AITC’s effective implementation of processes and systems, the development of critical skills, capabilities and past performance, as well as the hiring of committed and focused employees to take the company to the next level in a competitive environment.

AITC Expands Operations

Leading IT Systems Integrator Adds Southwest Regional Headquarters to Better Serve Clients

AITC has expanded with the addition of its new Southwest Regional Headquarters. This expansion comes on the heels of securing a major United States Army contract: Total Engineering and Integration Services (TEIS IV).

AITC made the $3.5M investment to purchase additional office space located just outside of Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, AZ.

“We are very deliberate about our growth strategy, keeping the needs of our clients on the forefront of every decision,” says David E. Gardner, AITC’s CEO. “Expanding our reach to Arizona and specifically the Sierra Vista area allows us to better support our Fort Huachuca contracts while serving existing and future clients throughout the region.”

Previously, the Department of Army, Army Materiel Command (AMC), Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), and U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command (USAISEC), awarded AITC a contract for information systems engineering and information technology support services. The Total Engineering and Integration Services (TEIS IV) contract is an $800M five-year duration IDIQ contract.

“Our new Southwest Regional Headquarters is a win-win for Government customers current and future and provides AITC with the flexibility to better serve our customer requirements worldwide,” says Larry Singer, AITC’s Chief of Business Development.

“In addition to providing expanded and modern office space for our Sierra Vista employees and several team members, our new facilities will also serve as a technology hub to showcase the latest technology and solutions AITC offers its customers,” says Gabriel Ruiz, AITC’s President.

Local officials Matt McLachlan, AICP, Community Development Director, City of Sierra Vista and Mignonne Hollis, Executive Director, Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation worked with AITC to make this expansion possible.

AITC was Recently Awarded a Contract with Kirtland Air Force Base

AITC was recently awarded a contract with the Kirtland Airforce Base, New Mexico to provide and install an audio-visual upgrade. The 377th Air Base Wing is the host organization at Kirtland Air Force Base, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The wing reports to Air Force Global Strike Command.  

Kirtland AFB is a center for research, development and testing of non-conventional weapons, space and missile technology, laser warfare and much more. Some of the organizations involved in this area include the Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratories, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, the Space and Missile Systems Center, the Air Force Inspection Agency and the Air Force Safety Center. 

 This project will modernize legacy equipment to bring enhanced AV/VTC and unified capabilities into cybersecurity compliance to operate within the Air Force’s enterprise environment.  Team AITC will plan, design, install, configure, test and train with our partner AVI-SPL, the nation’s industry leader in professional services that unifies voice, data, and video into a single collaborative communications platform.  

AITC’s team is comprised of highly trained professionals who deliver innovative communication technologies to Federal, State, Coalition and Civil markets, providing easy to use and secure unified capability solutions.

“We are excited to support Kirtland Air Force Base in their effort to upgrade their AV/VTC capabilities. Projects such as these underscore our ability to provide the latest technology innovations that support the mission readiness of our military,” says David E. Gardner, AITC’s CEO.

Congrats to our team member Lydia Perez for this win!

For more information about Kirtland AFB visit https://lnkd.in/e9873mbt

AITC Passes Second Annual ISO Quality Surveillance Audit with Flying Colors

Demonstrates Consistent Adherence to ISO 9001 Standards

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 is the world’s most popular quality management system (QMS). According to recent data, more than a million organizations worldwide are certified, spanning all sizes across a broad range of industries. The benefits are numerous and have a profound impact on both company culture and the quality of products and services delivered.

AITC just passed this year’s Surveillance Audit for ISO 9001:2015 with no corrective actions or identified areas for improvement, a true achievement!  Certified in 2019 in ISO 9001:2015, AITC Inc. has now completed its 24-month surveillance audit, which is part of the three-year verification cycle, demonstrating that AITC’s QMS is able to achieve expected outcomes and address any matters that require attention.

“The positive result of the surveillance audit demonstrates AITC’s consistent adherence to the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard. As stressed in its QMS, AITC is dedicated to a process of continual improvement, satisfying applicable requirements of the standard, addressing risks, and maximizing opportunities,” says David E. Gardner, CEO of AITC.

Implementing ISO processes and completing the ISO 9001 certification is important for AITC and its customers because it results in improved customer satisfaction and loyalty, happier and more competent employees, better quality products and services, increased efficiency, fewer mistakes, and less wasted time, reduced overall risks, and increased sales and market share.

In the government contracting industry, achieving ISO 9001 certification is highly coveted. AITC is proud to display it on the website and company documents as it underscores the commitment to quality products and services, customer, and employee satisfaction, as well as the overall efficiency of AITC’s operations.

About ISO 9000
The ISO 9001:2015 standard is based on several quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the support, motivation and focus of senior management to implement a process approach and continual improvement. Using ISO 9001:2015 helps ensure that customers get consistent quality products and services. ISO 9001:2015 sets the criteria for a quality management system.  Visit the website for more information at https://www.iso.org.

Director, Engineer and Applied Technology

Company Overview

The company is focused on: Telecommunications Systems / VoIP / IP Telephony; Data Networking; Information Security; Data Centers / Cloud Computing / Virtualization / Storage; IP Video / Video Teleconferencing; Wireless and Mobility; Computing / Servers / Workstations / PC’s / Tablets, etc.

AITC has an opening for a Director, Engineering and Applied Technology position in support of our Global mission but with primary duty station at our Winter Springs, FL. Headquarters.

Position Overview

This is a senior-level executive position that will report to the CEO. The director manages relationships with clients, stakeholders and corporate board members.  Will oversee the engineering team and provides technical status of projects to the CEO / President.  The Director will analyze systems and delegate tasks to team members.  Provide detailed analysis, reports, advice, and designs on all related new systems or system upgrades to existing system components. Provides expertise in requirements analysis, component selection, risk assessment, design, implementation, integration, test, post-delivery support. Must be willing to travel to meet clients, attend conferences and support the CEO as needed for business development.

Primary Responsibilities/Tasks

  • Lead and monitor the progress of engineering teams
  • Design department wide processes and procedures to optimize the use of resources and increase profit
  • Make and approve financial decisions as they relate to the Engineering Department.
  • Communicate the strategic vision to managers and ensure that work aligns with the company’s broader goals.
  • Oversee the execution of a project from initial brainstorming session to finished product
  • Manage teams, assigning roles and establishing work schedules, to include hiring
  • Train new team members and provide technical expertise to teams in crisis
  • Create and monitor budgets for the engineering group
  • Oversees and participates in requirements analysis, requirements definition, requirements management, functional analysis, performance analysis, system design, detail trade studies, systems integration and test (verification), validation and interface definition studies of system, subsystem or system elements
  • Performs technical planning, cost and risk analyses, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for subsystems and system elements
  • Performs detailed technical analyses for a system, subsystem or system elements
  • Supports the generation of technical engineering products by using the appropriate standards, processes, procedures, and tools throughout the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
  • Researches, designs, and develops systems, in conjunction with software and hardware product development, applying principles and techniques of systems engineering, modeling and simulation and analysis
  • Provides engineering support for proposals
  • Participates in or leads Statement of Work (SOW) generation for subcontracts
  • Guides the successful completion of major programs and projects
  • Plans and executes significant project tasks for activities described above
  • Identifies, analyzes and resolves system design weaknesses
  • Keeps abreast of technology trends
  • Contributes to the achievement of business objectives
  • Travel required (Up to 40%) to both State side and Overseas locations

Qualifications

  • 15 + years of experience in Systems Engineering
  • 5+ years of Personnel management
  • Degree in an Information Systems or Engineering discipline
  • Experience mentoring and training junior and senior Systems Engineering in the tenants of Systems Engineering
  • Use and understanding of systems engineering concepts, principles, and theories
  • Experience with project leadership principles
  • Strong troubleshooting skills 
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Demonstrated experience working at all levels of the test and integration process,
  • Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to thrive in multi-disciplinary environment 
  • Department of Defense Secret Clearance

Compensation

Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience, expertise, education, and potential. We offer our employees competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package.

AITC Named to Fast 50 2020 List by Washington Technology

List Represents the Most Successful Small Businesses in the Government Market

AITC was named by Washington Technology as a Fast 50 Award winner for 2020.  The outlet lists 50 of the nation’s fastest growing small businesses representing a full spectrum of capabilities, technologies and customers that make up the government contracting (GovCon) market. 

AITC has shown sustained growth and is ranked at number 34 based on its four-year compound growth rate of 36.5 percent which, is reflective of its substantial revenue increase over the last three years. 

“Through the collaboration, innovation, focus and dedication of our employees, our team has worked hard to serve our government customers and deliver impactful results which, is demonstrated by our proven performance and growth. We are honored to be recognized by Washington Technology as one of this year’s fast 50 companies,” says David E. Gardner, CEO of AITC.

To be eligible for the list, a company must be considered a fast-growing small business in the government market with at least $50,000 in government revenue in 2015.   It ranks small businesses according to their compound annual growth rate over the last five years.  Government revenue includes prime contract subcontract work in the federal, state and local markets.

Washington Technology, a web-based specialty publication, is considered the foremost authoritative source of competitive intelligence for executives of small businesses in the federal contracting market.

For more information, view the entire list here.

David E. Gardner Selected as CEO to Lead AITC Into Next Phase of Growth

David E. Gardner
David E. Gardner

AITC has announced the appointment of David E. Gardner to the position of CEO effective March 2, 2020, succeeding Gabriel Ruiz, who will serve as President.  Gardner is the first CEO to join the team, bringing more than three decades of leadership experience and success transforming several businesses from small, mid-tier and large companies.  Through his management expertise and organizational development skills Gardner has enacted executive management whose accomplishments resulted in >$25B in total contract growth for Inc. 5000, Fed 100, and Fortune 100 Information Technology (IT) and Engineering firms in the Department of Defense, federal and health sectors as well as international markets.

“We’re moving from a position of strength to high growth for the future. David is the right CEO to lead AITC to continue our global transformation.  I am confident he will move the company forward with the agility required to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead by utilizing industry best practices,” says Gabriel Ruiz, AITC Owner & President.

Gardner’s success is driven by his diverse experience in building strong executive management teams and developing mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships.  His exceptional ability to manage resources ensures each project operates at peak performance yielding optimal results in an efficient and effective manner.

“I am thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to lead AITC at such an important time in its development. AITC has an incredible brand and market strength that has generated solid growth in recent years. I am looking forward to building a performance-based business yielding optimal results, while simultaneously ensuring we remain focused on delivering the very best quality service to our customers,” says David E. Gardner, AITC CEO. 

Headquartered in Winter Springs, Florida, AITC is a leading SDVOSB and SBA 8(a) certified Systems Integration firm providing IT and Professional Services and Solutions to the Department of Defense, Federal Government and Public Sector agencies. 

Prior to joining AITC, Gardner was CEO/president of his own executive consulting business.   He has also held management positions for private companies including Northrop Grumman/PRC, CACI, General Electric Company, RS Information Systems, Inc., STG Inc. and NCI Information Systems, Inc., among others.

Gardner has an MBA in Finance/MIS from The College of William and Mary in Virginia and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering/Computer Technology from the University of Rhode Island.

When not working, Gardner is an avid boater – but most importantly, loving husband to his wife Susan and dad to their 20-year old son and University of Virginia student Devin. The Gardners live in Oak Hill, Virginia and Orlando, FL.

IITSEC 2018 Photo Gallery

Innovations Improving Human Performance and Training

Innovations Improving Human Performance and Training

AITC partners with leading-edge innovators.  At I/ITSEC 2018, the world’s largest modeling, simulation, and training conference held annually in Orlando, AITC invited SIMETRI, an 8(a) woman-owned, minority-owned, small business located in Winter Park, FL, to present their latest training innovations.  SIMETRI has been providing end-to-end solutions for critical training support and works with AITC to provide network engineering and architecture design support.

One of SIMETRI’s medical research assistants, Jordan Coulter, explained how SIMETRI’s technologies integrated with others, such as Laerdal manikins, for specific medical procedures and for more inclusive medical training.

SIMETRI’s Manikin Innovations

One of SIMETRI’s anatomical innovations is a leg which can be screwed into a manikin for an amputation procedure.

“It has the tubing where you can connect it into their blood system so that it actively bleeds and you can practice for the applications of tourniquet and other clinical procedures,” Coulter explained.

With more women joining the military, there’s a growing need to train for casualties which affect women, and that means having an anatomically correct manikin to train on. Usually, most manikins are male by default, but it can be expensive to buy a separate manikin for that purpose. So SIMETRI has a more cost-effective solution – a manikin retrofit kit which can be placed on a manikin, without voiding warranties or limiting the manikin’s capabilities.

“You can still do all the procedures, that includes the mask, the vest with the correct female anatomical parts. You can [perform] urinary catherization, needle chest decompressions, etc.” Coulter said.

A part of the kit’s innovation is the silicon skin which allows students to perform venipuncture and phlebotomy procedures. It’s quite resilient to puncture wounds, but they aren’t visible.

Part Task Trainers

Part task trainers allow medical students to perform specific procedures on various parts of the body. At I/ITSEC, SIMETRI showcased some of these devices.

One-part task trainer is for a fasciotomy in a lower leg. This is a surgical procedure where the fascia (connective tissue which covers muscles or internal organs) is cut to alleviate the pressure of a swollen injured muscle or tissue. The common ailment treated by a fasciotomy is called compartment syndrome. By performing a fasciotomy, this can help increase blood flow to the injured muscle and prevent the loss of a limb. SIMETRI’s part task trainer allows a medical student to train on all four compartments of a lower leg.

Not presented at I/ITSEC, but another part task trainer available from SIMETRI is the humeral head intraosseous (IO) trainer, which is a trainer for inserting a needle into the humerus bone for IO infusion into the bone marrow. This type of injection is performed on a patient when intravenous (IV) methods can’t be used. The humeral head is the more rounded part of the upper arm bone which inserts into the shoulder.

With this procedure, the patient’s arm is rotated so that the humerus is in the right position for the needle injection.  Most trainers have only a removable patch of skin to expose the humerus to see if the insertion was done correctly.

SIMETRI’s trainer also has that removable patch of skin, but it also allows surgical students to position a manikin torso with a rotatable arm, simulating how the injection would occur with an actual patient. Instructors can also use this trainer to demonstrate how to correctly position the arm for an IO insertion.

AITC and SIMETRI – Working Together

Innovations Improving Human Performance and TrainingAs a systems integrator, AITC can connect customers with SIMETRI’s medical training solutions such as the park task trainers.  Together we provide systems engineering and integration services and other professional services such as supply chain management, iterative prototyping and development, and systems engineering.

“It’s a win-win for both of us,” said Angela Albán, President and CEO of SIMETRI. “AITC helps us to expand our portfolio, and SIMETRI helps to expand AITC’s. Our partnership is based on a friendship, with a desire to collaborate and find work together.” “By teaming up together, AITC and SIMETRI can use their unique capabilities to bring tailored solutions for their customers,” says Dave Balleweg, AITC’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

To learn more about how AITC can create end-to-end IT solutions for your organization, please contact Lydia Perez in our sales department at sales@aitcinc.com.

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