Army Awards Contract for DefenseWeb to Expand Online Resource for Deployed Troops and Families Army-wide

DefenseWeb partners with Salute Our Services (SOS) organization to take Army readiness efforts into 21^st century SAN DIEGO – November 17, 2004 – DefenseWeb Technologies, a premier custom software developer and systems integrator serving Defense Department (DoD) organizations, announced today that the U.S. Army has awarded the company a contract to develop a new “Platinum Edition” of its successful Virtual Family Readiness Group (vFRG) application for deployed troops and their families. In August 2004, DefenseWeb’s “Standard Edition” vFRG was released to the U.S. Army for use with troops and families from the Second Infantry Division (2ID) in South Korea. Based on the success of the application, DefenseWeb was awarded a follow-on contract to develop an “Enhanced Edition,” which launched earlier this year. The new “Platinum Edition” will add “next generation” features and will provide additional training, outreach and support. It will also be expanded across the entire U.S. Army, including Active and Reserve components. DefenseWeb CEO Douglas Burke said, “Our new partnership with the Salute Our Services organization is a key factor to our successful implementation of the vFRG initiative. We look forward to leveraging this partnership with SOS to help make vFRG and other Army and Military family programs successful in the future, using our organizations’ combined expertise in technology and understanding of the needs of deployed Soldiers and their families to meet the demands of the 21st century Army.” The Standard Edition vFRG application, which can be accessed at www.desertstrike.armyfrg.org, is a Web system that provides news, announcements, Army resources and tools that allow troops to communicate with their families across the globe. Family members can even share and post photos for public and private sharing with Soldiers and other family members. The primary objectives of the vFRG are to provide the Army with a system that replicates, in a virtual environment, all of the major components of Family Readiness Groups in a traditional, face-to-face environment. Tricia Johnson, Salute Our Services CEO and the spouse of an Army reservist, is convinced that vFRG’s will remedy many of the communication issues during deployments. “When a Soldier is deployed, their family serves, too,” says Johnson. “DefenseWeb has developed an essential tool to ease the burden of deployments on both families and Soldiers.” About Salute Our Services™ (SOS) Salute Our Services, Inc. (www.saluteourservices.org) was conceived by the spouse of a US Army Reservist to provide and develop programs that support Soldiers and families during deployments. Founded in 2001, SOS specializes in program development, marketing, and public relations. Salute Our Services, located in McLean, Virginia with a satellite office in San Diego, is both a small, woman owned business and a non profit 501 (C) (3).

Patricia Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, has over 25 years experience in the field of public and media relations, specializing in corporate development, fund raising and implementing nationwide public service programs. She has extensive background in television production and has produced for both CBS and ABC affiliates and she has also produced several videos for the non profit community. Her articles have been published in several magazines and newsletters across the country. Public Service is a priority for her and over the years she has devoted many volunteer hours to community boards and organizations, with a particular emphasis on youth. She was appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to serve on the Athletic Council, where she has represented the sport of Volleyball for several years. Recently, she was appointed as a representative for the newly formed Fairfax County committee addressing the increase in area youth gangs. Ms. Johnson holds a BA degree from Arizona State University. The former President of an Arizona based non profit corporation, she has been a resident of Northern Virginia for over 14 years. As a result of her experience as the wife of a United States Army reservist who has been deployed twice, she created the first virtual family readiness group (vFRG) site for her spouse’s unit in 2002 as part of her participation with the Family Readiness Group. Judith O'Leary, Executive Vice President, has over 30 years experience in an IT environment where she gained a national reputation in the area of quality assurance, identifying appropriate software, hardware, and middleware solutions for clients, including LAN/WAN, T 1.5, Disaster Recovery, out sourcing and Training. After receiving her Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology, she worked in the military environment, counseling military families facing deployments and other issues related to military service such as separation, parenting skills enrichment, anger management, and diversity. In that arena, she developed and presented workshops on a variety of topics. She also holds a Mediation/Arbitration certification and a PH.D in Organizational Behavior. Courtney Reddington, Director Family Programs, graduated from LaSalle University with a B.A. in Communication and English in May 1993. She spent two years employed as the principal media buyer and planner for Robertson-Markowitz Advertising and Public Relations in Savannah, GA. Courtney then served as a Development Coordinator and later Special Programs Manager for the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The MS Society recognized her performance as a fund raiser by selecting her as the 1996 Regional "Rookie" of the Year from among the first year employees in the southern area's twenty-two chapters. Next, Courtney managed all aspects of a 45 person, 1.6 million dollar fund raising campaign as the Assistant Director of Annual Giving for the University of Virginia. In her duties as the Assistant Director of Annual Giving for a major university, she raised more money in her first six months than was raised in the entire previous year. Courtney next served as the Associate Director of Development for the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum where she managed a nation-wide membership campaign. Courtney’s most recent development experience culminated with her service as the Director of Development for Senior Citizen’s Inc. in Savannah, GA. As the Director of Development, Courtney implemented a comprehensive development and marketing plan that included a capital campaign, an annual fund campaign, major gift solicitation, and numerous special events. Courtney has actively assisted in all phases of fund raising, marketing, special event planning, public relations and advertising for a variety of projects. Her experience includes: writing press releases, annual reports, grants, copywriting, and newsletters, conducting fund raising campaigns, specialized marketing, special events, and managing paid employees and volunteers. Courtney’s activities have included: the Washington, D.C. Area Judge Advocate General’s Corps’ Spouses Club Executive Board (2004-2005); The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School’s Spouses Club Board (2003-2004); the Board of the Fort Hood Officer’s Wives’ Club (2000-2001), Chair of the Fort Hood Celebrity Golf Tournament (2001), and, the Junior League of Charlottesville, VA, Savannah, GA, and Northern Virginia (1998-2004). Courtney’s volunteer activities for the military have been recognized with the Commander’s Award (2001) and selection as the Fort Hood Volunteer of the Month in May 2001.

Cynthy Soucie, Director Administration, graduated from the University of Oregon in 1992 with a B.S. in Political Science. Cynthy was commissioned an officer in the Army and served at Fort Hood, Texas from 1993 to 1997, rising to the rank of Captain. While in the military, Cynthy gained extensive experience in communications and administrative positions. Cynthy served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Training Officer. Cynthy’s tasks in the military were varied and included: compiling data into comprehensive and clear reports and briefings for various levels of command including the Department of the Army; working with a variety of communication technologies, including network management, and assessing the training needs of a 490 soldier battalion and significantly improving unit readiness by sending over 224 soldiers to military schooling.

After leaving active duty, Cynthy served as a Personnel Management Specialist with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., from November 1998 until March 2000. In this position, Cynthy trained supervisors on how to conduct and complete performance evaluations on subordinates, reviewed Performance Appraisal Reports, Reconsideration Requests, Inspection Findings, and other performance related reports, attended various courses on public speaking, briefing techniques, and instruction methods, developed and distributed standard training materials, and managed the Senior Executive Service Program.

Cynthy briefly served as a substitute teacher with the Guardino Elementary School in Clayton, NY and was an active volunteer at school 2001 to 2004. Cynthy has extensive experience in public speaking and organizational and management skills. Her husband is currently on active duty.