As chair of the Congressional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Caucus, Rep. Rick Crawford took a special interest in the new facility taking shape in Indian Head.

Crawford, who represents Arkansas’ 1st Congressional District, received a tour of the U.S. Bomb Technician Association’s new Bomb Disposal Technology and Training Center from USBTA founder and CEO Sean Dennis, as well as Capt. Eric Correll, commanding officer of Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head.

The USBTA facility will open this spring and anchor the larger Maryland Technology Center, which will be a hub for tech- and defense-focused companies in a revitalized space just outside the gates of Naval Support Facility Indian Head.

The Bomb Disposal and Technology Center will help expand the research and training capabilities for the USBTA, which is a nonprofit made up of 3,000 first responder and bomb technician members, as well as a consortium of 62 industry partners.