VingTech

Maine's contributions to our national security were on full display last week. At the beginning of the week, the new Chief of Naval Operations, Gary Roughead, came to Maine to visit the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Bath Iron Works, and the Brunswick Naval Air Station. I first became acquainted with Admiral Roughead some years ago when he was the head of the Navy's Senate Liaison Office, and I was delighted when he was named CNO.

Senator Susan Collins recently took part in the grand opening ceremonies at the new VingTech facility in Biddeford. Senator Collins was joined by officials from VingTech and the City of Biddeford in addressing the assembled audience before the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon. VingTech, is a subsidiary of Simrad Optronics, a Norwegian electro-optical manufacturer headquartered in Oslo . Founded in 1948, the company manufactures military electro-optics and supplies defense and security sighting and infrared systems to the United States military, NATO, and over 40 other nations. The Biddeford location is expected to initially create 30 new jobs in the area.