The Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2) and its founder Dr. Zenovy Wowczuk were recognized at West Virginia Governor Jim Justice’s 2023 West Virginia State of the State Address on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. Governor Justice commended CMI2 for establishing its one-of-a-kind military capability for advanced training and technology experimentation known as the Adaptive Experimentation Facility in Fola, West Virginia.
The Fola site, in Clay County, West Virginia, is part of a former coal-mine facility transformed by CMI2 into a defense training and technology experimentation center to support defense innovation development and testing. Offering an austere terrain to experiment with and stress cutting-edge technologies, including advanced communications, electronic warfare, robotics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and others at the tactical level, the Fola site also supports the next generation of economic development throughout the area.
CMI2 has recently received $100M in contract awards from the U.S. Department of Defense, propelling the new opportunity to expand and further develop the Fola site, which will result in up to 50 new jobs at the facility and seed the future investment of new high-tech businesses in West Virginia.
“The development effort underway in 2023 will further benefit from CMI2’s demonstrated and successful efforts to bring new DoD partners to West Virginia,” said Wowczuk. “From engagement by the U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, the Office of Naval Research, the 101st Airborne Division, and of course, our partners at the West Virginia Army National Guard – to name a few – the Fola facility is truly a niche capability to ensure Soldier readiness and preparation for the next fight.”
The CMI2 efforts will result in up to 50 new jobs at the Clay County facility and the subsequent creation of new high-tech businesses in West Virginia.
Watch the State of the State:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTLyrpM8hRg
