Navigational Sciences Inc. restructures management as part of growth plan

Charleston, S.C.—Navigational Sciences Inc., an international product and services company offering robust, secure wireless platform technology that enables cargo and asset tracking, monitoring, sensing and communications, has restructured its senior management team. In a move initiated by the chief executive officer, the reorganization is seen as pivotal to the company’s aim to continue groundbreaking research and development efforts while simultaneously launching a suite of new products that could alter the way in which countries around the globe both track valuable assets and monitor threats to national security.

In order to focus more fully on the company’s ongoing research and development efforts, Eric Dobson, founder and former chief executive officer of NavSci™, is assuming a new role as chief scientific officer. He maintains a seat on the board of directors.

“It’s important for the long-term growth of this organization that we serve two roles – the management and marketing of our current products and the ongoing research and development of new technology,” commented Dobson. “The company was built on our research and development efforts, and I want to remain true to that component to ensure our future is also robust. To succeed, we also must have a solid management team that can fully focus on the launch and production of our existing suite of products. I’m confident that this realignment places us in a position to most effectively handle both.”

Dobson will now lead NavSci’s research and development efforts, focusing on the vision for emerging technologies and future product development. NavSci holds the license to develop new technology recently approved by the U.S. Patent Office. The “HSS Technique for Expanding Channel Capacity” technology exceeds capabilities seen in previous data communications systems with its ability to communicate around barriers and to provide enhanced levels of security in data transfer. NavSci holds the license to develop and market all fields of use for this application, and Dobson will oversee the transfer of this and other technology into practical application, particularly relevant with today’s heightened security demands.

As part of the growth plan, long-time Charleston businessman and attorney Antony M. Merck was elected to the role of non-executive chairman of the board for NavSci.

“Eric Dobson has built an exciting company with extraordinary growth potential,” commented Merck. “As part of the long-term vision, he recommended that we separate the commercial marketing and manufacturing division from the research and development efforts. Our board and the management team have embraced this vision and are enthusiastic about setting up a new management structure to further grow the organization.”

Now managing the commercial side are Bill Crowe, recently promoted to chief operating officer, and Steve Hiott, chief financial officer. Crowe is charged with creating and growing the operational and business development components of NavSci and Steve Hiott oversees financial forecasting and business planning.

“Both former entrepreneurs with track records of successfully growing companies, this duo brings formidable strength necessary to run a rapidly growing company such as we have now,” commented Merck after the July 20th board meeting where these changes were finalized.

Also part of the new management structure, Scott Blair was promoted to chief product development officer and Joseph Blankshain was promoted to chief technology officer.

Nearly six years since start-up, NavSci began the transition from its primary focus on research and development activities to the manufacture and marketing of products in late 2005. NavSci’s Impulse 1.0 asset monitoring device is currently on the market. Recently tested and approved by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), the company will next begin manufacturing Impulse 1.0 as it prepares to fill existing purchase orders totaling over $15 million for contractors such as American Control Technologies.

Navigational Sciences Inc., founded in 2000 and based in Charleston, S.C., develops and delivers tracking and data communication systems capable of monitoring security where other technologies may fail. Specializing in tracking mobile assets, including hazardous materials, trucks, rail cars and overseas shipping containers, Navigational Sciences utilizes emerging technologies to customize data tracking and communications systems that overcome the physical and environmental barriers that may hamper reception and tracking of resources and information.. For more information, visit www.NavSci.com.

# # #

Editor’s note: full bios of chairman of the board and management team follow:

Antony M. Merck
Chairman of the Board
Antony M. Merck has served in the maritime industry as an attorney and as a commissioner for the Federal Maritime Commission in Washington, D.C. Merck previously served as a partner in the law firm of Buist, Moore, Smythe & McGee in Charleston, S.C., where he focused primarily on admiralty and maritime law. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Virginia and a juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina.

Scott Blair
Chief Product Development Officer
As chief product development officer, Jeffrey Scott Blair serves as project manager for the development of technology including the integration of the IEEE 1451 smart sensor networking capabilities, cellular and satellite Wide Area Networks and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based asset tracking information-technology infrastructure. Prior to joining NavSci, Blair held a position with SMARTech Inc. for two years, where he designed and built a system to align large diameter satellite dishes by utilizing stellar positions. A graduate of the College of Charleston, Blair earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and studied high-energy particle physics at Stanford University and environmental science at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Joe Blankshain
Chief Technical Officer
Prior to joining NavSci, Blankshain served as the senior manager for the Enterprise Project Management Solutions (EPMS) program at the Motorola Corporation and was responsible for deployment, architecture and operations both domestically and internationally. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in computer engineering.

Bill Crowe
Chief Operating Officer
Prior to joining NavSci, Crowe was co-founder of SNVC where he served as vice president and chief operating officer. During his tenure, SNVC was named one of Inc. 500’s fastest growing companies. Crowe also served as a colonel in the United States Air Force, having worked directly for the undersecretary. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the Citadel, where he currently serves on the advisory board to the School of Business, and masters of science degrees from the National Defense University and the University of Southern California.

Eric Dobson
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Eric Dobson founded Navigational Sciences Inc. in 2000 to commercialize GIS-based asset tracking, security and condition monitoring technologies. Dobson has over15 years of experience working with academic, state and federal government as well as private sector venues applying Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to solve environmental, scientific and business problems. Dobson received a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Tennessee, a master’s in geography from the University of South Carolina and a doctorate in GIS from the University of South Carolina.

Steve Hiott
Chief Financial Officer
Steve Hiott previously served as managing partner of Hiott and Associates where for eight years he developed corporate growth strategies, financial models and business performance standards for emerging companies. Hiott, a certified public accountant, earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the College of Charleston.