Draper announced today the opening of a new office in Odon, Indiana, to help the company serve customers in the defense sector, with a focus on microelectronics, strategic weapons, hypersonic weapons and technology protection. The company has appointed Duane Embree to lead the Odon office. Embree is based in Indiana and will report to Jerry Wohletz, president and chief executive officer at Draper.
The launch of the Odon office marks an important milestone as the company builds on its ongoing expansion of customer capabilities and partnerships in the region. Draper has provided engineering services and technology development to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC, Crane) for over a decade. Draper’s partners in Indiana include Purdue University, which became a university partner for the Draper Scholars Program in 2019.
“Draper is proud of our growth in Indiana, which continues to be a critical location for the defense and high-technology community,” Sarah Leeper, principal director of Defense Systems at Draper, said. “With our new office, Draper is even better positioned to serve our customers, locally and nationally, as they deliver capabilities to support U.S. national security missions.”
Embree added, “I am excited to lead this new office and help Draper accelerate its growth plans in Indiana and in support of our government customers. Draper has brought engineering and technology expertise to the region, and the opportunity ahead is only growing as we continue to expand our capabilities on behalf of customers.”
Jason Salstrom, director of Purdue@WestGate, said, “Draper has been a long-time leader in solving some of the most difficult technology challenges our nation faces. Draper establishing a presence at WestGate adds more critical mass to the R&D center of gravity emerging alongside NSWC, Crane. It’s exciting.”
Bryant Niehoff, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation, said, “Daviess County and the region are pleased to see Draper’s continued growth at the Westgate@Crane Technology Park as the company expands its engineering capabilities and high-tech services to NSWC Crane and the Indiana defense sector.” Niehoff added that local officials look forward to working with Duane Embree, a long-time defense executive in the region, to help accelerate Draper’s growth plans.
Embree brings more than 40 years of experience in the region. He served as executive director of the Indiana Office of Defense Development, focusing on promoting and growing Indiana’s defense sector’s military installations, defense industry and academic assets. Prior to that, he worked for 35 years at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, most recently as technical director.
Draper’s office is located at WestGate@Crane Technology Park, near NSWC Crane’s campus, at 14359 Schoenberger Drive.
The new office opening marks the ninth location for Draper. The company’s locations include Reston, Va.; Washington, D.C.; Cape Canaveral, Fla; Pittsfield, Mass.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Houston, Tex.; Huntsville, Ala.; Odon, Ind. and Draper’s headquarters in Cambridge, Mass.