Digital Fusion buys tech support services firm

Acquisition is saidto let company domissile research

Huntsville-based Digital Fusion Inc. has acquired Summit Research Corp., a local company that provides technical support services for the U.S. Army Aviation command at Redstone Arsenal.

Digital Fusion, which specializes in information technology and engineering services, will pay cash, stock and a three-year promissory note to complete the deal, according to a company news release. The sale price was not disclosed.

Digital Fusion is traded publicly as an over-the-counter stock.

Summit Research will become a division of Digital Fusion and its co-founder, Michael Wicks, will serve as president and manage the company's customers. Roy Crippen, Digital Fusion's chief executive officer, said the acquisition will allow Digital Fusion to do missile research and development contracts and give it a broader range of product offerings.

Summit Research brings a "strong capability and customer base in modeling and simulation and engineering analysis at the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center at Redstone Arsenal," Gary Ryan, Digital Fusion's president, said in a news release.

Summit Research currently has about 55 employees; all are expected to become part of the newly aligned company, according to the news release.

Crippen said the company will have about 120 employees when the deal is completed in January.