Dayton acquisitions solidify defense contractor’s local presence

Credit: Chris Stewart

Credit: Chris Stewart

Virginia-based defense contractor Centauri has acquired two Dayton-area companies, the Design Knowledge Company (“TDKC”) and PreTalen, Ltd.

The acquisitions will boost Centauri’s employment and presence near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

TDKC focuses on microelectronics, space domain awareness and visualization for situational awareness. PreTalen’s areas include cyber warfare and navigational warfare.

Centauri has offices at 3725 Pentagon Blvd. The acquisitions more than double the number of Centauri employees in the Dayton region to more than 300, working in the space, cyber, and intelligence markets.

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With the acquisitions, Centauri now has over $475 million of annual revenues and 1,650 employees, approximately 20 percent of whom work in Dayton, the company said Wednesday.

“In addition, to bringing TDKC and PreTalen’s capabilities to bear for Centauri’s broader customer base, Centauri is building additional research and development labs, and secure facilities in the Dayton region to expand innovation and cutting-edge solutions for Centauri’s customers,” the company said in an announcement.

“Both TDKC and PreTalen have exceptional talent and share a common culture of innovation in pioneering new capabilities for the warfighter” Dave Dzaran, Centauri chief executive, said in the company’s statement. “With TDKC, we are building world-class capability to help ensure trusted microelectronics in the supply chains for the defense and intelligence communities.”

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Greg Gerten, CEO of PreTalen, and Dan Schiavone and Eric Loomis, founders of TDKC, as well as their leadership teams, including Bruce Hart, will become a part of Centauri’s operations in the region, Centauri said in its announcement.

“I speak for all of PreTalen when I say that we are extremely excited to be joining forces with Centauri,” said Greg Gerten. “The space community has always been a natural adjacency for our core capabilities, and we look forward to replicating our past success for an ever-increasing number of customers.”

This investment comes on the heels of Centauri’s hiring of Col. Elena Oberg, former vice commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

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