FHTCC APPOINTS NAVY CAPTAIN TO ITS ROSTER OF HIGH TECH LEADERS

Heathrow, Fla. (August 20, 2007) – The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) today announced the addition of Captain Steve Burris, USN. CAPT Burris serves as the Commanding Officer for the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) and Naval Support Activity (NSA), Orlando.

In his role on the Council, Burris will use his experience and expertise in emerging technologies to help guide FHTCC in its mission to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and the workforce to support those industries in the 23-county Corridor.

CAPT Burris was appointed by Council co-chair and University of Central Florida (UCF) President Dr. John Hitt. He holds a Masters of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He has previously served as both the Chief Test Pilot and later Commanding Officer of the Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THREE ONE (VX-31) located in China Lake, California.

Burris will serve the Council in an advisory role and replaces recently retired Council member Colonel Walt Augustin, USMC.

FHTCC is an economic development initiative of (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF) and University of Florida (UF). A partnership involving more than 20 local and regional economic development organizations (EDOs) and 14 community colleges, the Council is co-chaired by the presidents of UCF, USF and UF. Council members include the presidents of two of the community colleges who serve on a rotating basis, the president of Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and representatives of high tech industry. The Council employs a strategic approach to high tech economic development that involves matching funds research, workforce development, cultivation of technology communities and a marketing program leveraging governmental, EDO and corporate budgets on a regional rather than local basis.