Tactical CommGear Sets February ’09 Debut

Newly Minted Developer of Integrated Audio Systems will Target Wearable Technology for Mission Critical Military Operations and Specialized Law Enforcement. Holbrook, New York, February 20, 2009 – Seeking to bring an innovative global strategy to the development and distribution of engineered acoustic products, Mr. Anthony W. Mazzeo, President of Global Market Development, Inc., a New York based holding company, has announced the establishment of Tactical CommGear, Inc. (TCG), a new subsidiary that will combine advanced audio engineering with the integration of complex systems to serve the needs of high risk military and law enforcement applications. Tailored to Unconventional Combat:. The new line, which will sell under the Tactical CommGear brand name, will encompass a full range of lightweight man- wearable headsets, handsets, microphones and controllers, tailored to the needs of unconventional combat operations and specialized law enforcement. In addition to superior signal quality and reliability, components will be highly ergonomic and capable of performing under extreme weather conditions. Units will also be water submersible and in some cases water proof. As part of the business model, TCG will also add a heavy element of vertical integration to the mix, allowing the company to serve more complex, mission specific requirements. In making the announcement, Mr. Mazzeo, a 40 year industry veteran who will serve as the President and CEO of TCG, said that Tactical CommGear represents a major expansion of the GMD business model, which until now has been built around the legacy acoustic equipment manufactured by Accusonic Products, a company founded by Mr. Mazzeo in 1992 and also a subsidiary of GMD. Accusonic is a leading design and manufacturing source for a wide range of rugged, ergonomically scaled voice communications and signaling products for military and first responder applications. These products encompass a full range of legacy and modified legacy products including amplified loudspeaker systems, communications kits, signaling horns, dynamic microphones, cables and audio transformers. Market Driven Change:. The move to expand into the arena of more highly engineered products, according to Mazzeo, is being driven by changes in the market calling for hardware that is more mission specific and that can support the military’s emphasis on smaller, more self sufficient units that can operate independently in the field over longer periods of time. He believes that the industry is moving beyond the point where the standard legacy product can be used as part of a “one size fits all” approach. Today’s military and law enforcement applications, he says, have become too sophisticated and require equipment that is specifically tailored to the mission. Mazzeo expects the TCG strategy to fit the mold of a more agile, network centric military that is emerging to fight the wars of the 21st century and he is building the company around that philosophy. Mission Specific Hardware:. “ Today’s warfighter”, said Mazzeo, “ needs very lightweight wearable components that are suited to the environments in which he operates. The same is true of the first responder or the SWAT team member who has to rely on speed and agility to get the job done. These people don’t just want more equipment, they want equipment that will help them solve a problem”. Signal quality and reliability, Mazzeo believes, must be taken for granted, especially in terms of weather endurance, where water absorption and other extreme environmental conditions have to be considered as the norm rather than as the exception. In explaining the expanded business model, Mazzeo said that Legacy products will still be an important part of the Accusonic business picture, even though that business is declining. “Standard products will still be needed for a long time”, Mazzeo said, and they will continue to be an important part of what we do. In fact, there will be cases in which TCG will incorporate some of Accusonic’s products, or even those of some other legacy product supplier, into a specific system related solution. “In some cases”, said Mazzeo, “we will develop entirely new products that are conceptually different in order to address a specific requirement. In others, we will define interfaces and combine other manufacturer’s equipment with our own into a working system. The important thing to remember is that TCG will now define who we are, and everything else will support that”, Mazzeo said. Fully Equipped Facility:. To make TCG a more robust company”, the management team has brought together a consortium of experts in the areas of acoustic engineering and marketing , supported by specialists in the areas of manufacturing and test. Furthermore, while Tactical CommGear will work in concert with Accusonic in areas where specific types of manufacturing support are required, the philosophies governing strategy and operations will be distinctly different. For this reason, TCG will be housed in its own facility, a new facility located in Holbrook, NewYork, some 50 miles east of New York City. The space will be occupied by a diverse team of engineers, technicians and electro-mechanical assemblers skilled in digital electronics, audio engineering and mechanical design. Supporting this team will be a full complement of manufacturing resources that will give TCG self sufficiency in meeting the full range of government standards in terms of fabrication, assembly, quality management and test. Tactical CommGear will open its doors during the month of February and will make its first industry appearance at the AUSA Show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on February 26th. The company expects to unveil the first in a new line of products at that time.