Category: News

Gnostech, LLC was awarded a new contract with the Department of the Navy, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Strike Planning and Execution Systems program office (PMA-281) to provide hardware and software development and sustainment. This Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) Multiple Award Contract (MAC) has a cumulative ceiling of $497,500,000 over a 5-year period.  

Under this new contract, Gnostech will provide development, integration, test and evaluation, deployment and delivery, modifications, operations, and sustainment of hardware and software provides to support PMA-281’s domestic and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) portfolio. This includes capabilities and components for Naval Mission Planning Systems (NavMPS), International Program and FMS, Common Control Systems (CCS), Theater Mission Planning Center (TMPC), Washington Planning Center (WPC), and Airwing Ship Integration (AWSI). Other efforts will include design, support, and upgrade of PMA-281-provided products and hardware and software solutions for fielded systems in addition to studies, analyses, and prototyping efforts.  

“We are excited to continue our unwavering support of PMA-281 and delivering rapid, innovative software and hardware solutions for the warfighter,” said James Espino, President of Gnostech. 

Gnostech has provided engineering and lifecycle support for PMA-281 and its product lines since 1998. Gnostech engineers are embedded in all facets of the mission planning system product lifecycle, ranging from systems installation and integration, to hardware/software engineering, to cybersecurity, and customer support. Gnostech is also the primary developer of the Automated Update Distribution Tool (AUDT).  

Gnostech, LLC is pleased to announce that it has earned ISO 9001:2015 certification. The comprehensive system audits covered every aspect of the company’s operations in the pursuit of customer satisfaction, high quality, and continuous improvement.

“Any company that has been through the certification process knows that achieving ISO 9001:2015 certification is demanding,” said James Espino, President of Gnostech. “By scrutinizing our enterprise and internal processes at every level, we are committed to fulfilling customer and other applicable requirements by continuously using innovative technology, providing our customers with excellent services, and exceeding our customer’s demands.”

ISO 9001:2015 is a quality management system standard that was developed by the International Organization for Standardization, which is an association of governmental and nongovernmental organizations from many countries. The ISO 9001:2015 standard is utilized to certify quality management systems that focus on continuous improvement, customer satisfaction and the active involvement of both management and employees in a process-based approach.

For any company, the road to certification requires time and commitment. The Gnostech team underwent an extensive company-wide audit that included quality management system development, a management system documentation review, pre-audit, initial assessment, and clearance of non-conformances.

“Fulfilling the strict requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard highlights our focus and commitment to the design, development and integration of C4ISR software and weapon systems for the warfighter,” Mr. Espino said.

Gnostech received two honors during the 5th Annual AFCEA Jim Loiselle Awards Networking Reception with AFCEA San Diego on September 17, including our “Small Business Sponsor of the Year” award and Director of Business Development James Roe’s nomination for “Rookie of the Year.” We appreciate the recognition as it affirms our commitment to the San Diego market and our support of the local AFCEA chapter.

In late May, Gnostech Vice President Sarah Carter delivered a speech at the Organization of the American States (OAS) Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP)’s Hemispheric Seminar on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Gender Equality in Lima, Peru. The seminar, held from May 23 to May 25, 2018, focused on how to create a competitive and inclusive maritime-port sector.

As a panelist, Sarah contended that in order to advance economic participation in the maritime-port sector, we must “fight with two hands,” that is, taking advantage of the talent both men and women have to offer. With a glaringly large minority of women in the maritime-port sector, industry leaders must aim to attract women into the field in order to cease “fighting with one hand behind our back.” Sarah focused her speech on how maritime-port companies can improve upon their economic participation strategies to boost effectiveness and competitiveness by highlighting three key ideas: recruitment, retention, and professional development. With an effective human capital strategy, Sarah argued that the maritime industry can then “fight with both hands.”

Sarah’s speech rings true in the maritime industry; there is an immense gender gap in this field. As Sarah cited in her speech, women make up only 2% of the maritime-port sector, while, overall, women comprise 50% of the labor market. Further, according to a survey conducted by the British International Freight Association, less than 1% of companies within the shipping sector have female representatives in executive positions. The statistics are striking: change must be made in order to recruit countless more women into the maritime industry.

In addition to her presentation at the Hemispheric Seminar on CSR and Gender Equality, Sarah also contributed to the May 2018 edition of the CIP Magazine: “Empowerment of Women: Equality in Ports.” The issue included opinion articles, analyses, and technical reports related to professional training and capacity-building initiatives for the maritime-port sector in the Western Hemisphere.

In her article entitled “Strategies for Increased Participation and Retention”, Sarah noted that in order to increase the presence of women in the maritime industry, we must ensure that this initiative is not merely a discussion on International Women’s Day or during a CSR and Gender Equality Conference. Rather, Sarah explains that “for meaningful, cultural change to occur, leaders should embrace bringing more women into all facets of the maritime-port industry.”

Sarah furthered her ideas by describing the many avenues that gender equality can be incorporated into a company’s operations, like sharing the feats of women in the maritime industry, both in the past and in the present, or even creating a newsletter – like the National Port Authority does every quarter – that centers around gender equality. She also noted that there needs to be a greater emphasis on giving young women more exposure to the multitude of careers and opportunities present in the maritime industry and that female leaders need to “continuously support placing other qualified and deserving women in positions of increasing responsibility.”

Sarah’s tremendous involvement in voicing her ideas about the enormous gender gap in the maritime industry fosters awareness that a greater presence of women in this industry is not only necessary but also highly advantageous.

To read Sarah’s article, click here.

Gnostech was featured in the April 2018 edition of the Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, with a special focus on cybersecurity.  The company provided an article on cybersecurity incident response and incident handling, noting that such preparation is a critical component for maritime organizations to ensure that environmental, commercial, and safety impacts are kept to a minimum.  Click here to view the article.