Thales Communications, a recognized leader in advanced communications technologies for warfighters and first responders, announces a company expansion and the change of its company name. Through recent acquisitions and intra-Thales mergers, the company's increased technology base and product portfolio now include adjacent markets. To better represent its focus and offerings, Thales Communications has changed its name to Thales Defense & Security, effective October 1, 2013.

Two Thales businesses merged with Thales Communications – the navigation, surveillance, and simulation segment of the Thales air traffic management organization, and the former Thales USA Defense and Security, both long-time partners of Thales Communications. They join Tampa Microwave, Visionix, and InterSense, the businesses acquired by Thales Communications during 2012. Tampa Microwave is the provider of the world's smallest, man-packable, tactical SATCOM terminals for high-bandwidth, voice, video, and data battlefield communications, and Visionix and InterSense are the developers of industry-leading helmet mounted display and motion tracking technologies.

“Our diversification within the defense, federal, and commercial markets is enabling us to broaden our technology base and increase our value to our customers,” said Michael Sheehan, President and CEO of Thales Communications, who continues in that role for Thales Defense & Security.

As part of the intra-Thales mergers, two other Thales businesses came under management control of Thales Communications, with no changes in their leadership – Thales e-Security, a provider of data protection solutions, and the Thales-DRS joint venture, Advanced Acoustic Concepts, a provider of advanced sonar systems.

“Thales has essentially consolidated its U.S. defense and security businesses under one company,” said Alan Pellegrini, President and CEO of Thales USA. “This has created a larger, stronger company with operational and market synergies that will benefit both shareholders and customers.”

In addition to its locations in Maryland, including the headquarters campus in Clarksburg, Thales Defense & Security has facilities in California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania.

The company website has changed from www.thalescomminc.com to www.thalesdsi.com, and employee e-mail addresses have changed accordingly.