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By Lindsey Parietti/Daily News staff
Natick - On his first visit to the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center, Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday praised the center's investment in local businesses and the staff's continuous drive to improve military technology.
"We want to partner with the facility and the intellectual density of the facility to find ways to transfer technological know-how into and out of the base," Patrick told members of the media.
The center, known locally as Natick Labs, awarded approximately $41.6 million of its $1 billion fiscal year 2006 budget in contracts to Bay State companies. It employs mostly civilians to develop new food and uniforms for the military.
Brig. Gen. R. Mark Brown led Patrick on a tour of the facility including one of two climate chambers used to simulate extreme weather conditions.
"Now there's no locking the door," joked Patrick as he entered the tropics chamber that can reach up to 165 degrees.
Researchers showed Patrick the mapping software and health monitors that allow troops to avoid noisy radio communication and locate wounded soldiers.
Fatigues with insect repellent Permethrin bonded to the fabric's fibers protect Marines from dangerous bites. Betsy Moore, who oversees the development of Marine Corps uniforms, said the same technology can be purchased by travelers going abroad.
"If you are going overseas you can buy kits and treat your clothing yourself," Moore said. "It is EPA approved and recommended for children. The risk from insect bites is a lot greater than the chemical itself."
The center also develops body armor for the state police and trades technology with local civilian-owned businesses.
"We are using non-traditional contractors like a company in Taunton that got its bread and butter making skateboard and snowboard helmets," Brown said of the effort to bring in new ideas.
Stephen Moody, head of combat ration development, gave Patrick a bagged meal that included a pocket sandwich, sports drink powder, chocolate-covered coffee beans and Twizzler Nibs. Rations are specially packaged to last 3 years and withstand 80-degree heat.
According to Moody, Natick Labs is responsible for designing 100 percent of the military's food.
"It used to be things like pork patties and beef patties," Moody said. "Now when you open a meal up it looks like a mall food court - chicken fajitas, pork chow mein - it's very ethnic because that's how kids are brought up now."
Public Affairs Officer Patty Welsh said that although the base's research is unique, there is still a concern that it will be a target of the U.S. Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closures, known as BRAC.
"What we do here could buy the wing of a jet fighter," Welsh said. "Even though what we do is just as important, it's a small part."
Patrick said increasing ties with local businesses would decrease the possibility of the base facing funding cuts.
"There is going to be a level of anxiety and there will inevitably be another BRAC," he said. "One thing we can do is continuously integrate the facility with the surrounding community and economy of the area. That makes the outcome much more important for the community."
Earlier in the day, Patrick spoke to business and municipal leaders and MetroWest lawmakers at the 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership's fourth annual conference at the Framingham Sheraton.
"As a candidate he was all over MetroWest," said state Rep. Stephen LeDuc, D-Marlborough, when introducing the governor. "He made an impression on
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