Press Release

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Department Of Defense Appropriations Bill Includes $4 Million To Upgrade Military Data Systems Through Binghamton University

Sep 21, 2010

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Department of Defense appropriations bill includes $4 million for the Binghamton University in order to upgrade current military data systems to ensure they are secure from outside threats and operating in an energy efficient manner.

“Our top-flight military intelligence represents a huge advantage over terrorists and other enemies and is essential to best protect our brave service men and women. These resources will help our military’s effort to stay at the cutting edge of both protecting that information and refining the energy efficiency so essential to battlefield excellence,” Schumer said. “The Binghamton University-affiliated project will bolster Binghamton’s reputation for world class technical development and lay the groundwork for further high-tech job creation.”

“This is a smart investment and Binghamton University will benefit tremendously,” said Senator Gillibrand.  “These federal dollars will help our military improve the management of its electronic systems, decrease energy consumption, and increase the safety and security of its electronic systems. This project will showcase New York’s leadership in this area and provide the seed to create new industry in upstate New York.”

Binghamton University is delighted that Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand have secured funding for the Center for Energy Efficient Electronic Systems, said Interim President C. Peter Magrath. We applaud them for their forward looking efforts on behalf of energy efficient electronic systems. The federal government’s investments in Binghamton University have enabled us to gather the kind of expertise and infrastructure that together with our government, industry and academia partners, will allow us to lead the way in creating technologies for energy efficient electronic systems, the environment and national security.

This funding will allow Binghamton University to work with the Pentagon in an effort to ensure that our military’s data systems are secure and energy efficient. Specifically, experts at Binghamton University will use a specialized process called ‘dynamic analysis’ to evaluate the military’s security and energy needs and make recommendations that will improve both. The program will allow the military and Binghamton University to conduct pilot projects to demonstrate how new technology could make existing military operations more secure and energy efficient.   

This week, the appropriations bill for the Department of Defense passed the Defense subcommittee. The legislation will be voted on by the full committee before heading to the floor for a full vote before the Senate. The bill will then proceed to the House-Senate Conference Committee, before final passage in both chambers, and sent to the President to become law.