Defense Technologies Committee Meeting
March 15th, 2004

The Defense Technology Committee hosted a meeting on March 15, 2004 at the Latham Hotel in Washington D.C. for representatives from the Norwegian Ministry of Defense and the Royal Norwegian Embassy. State Secretary Baard Glad Pedersen from the Ministry of Defense and his colleagues Christian Tybring-Gjedde, Assistant Director General, Leif Lindback, National Armaments Director, Paal Bjoerseth, Deputy Director General, and Torgeir Aas, Colonel, The Minister's Cabinet, attended the meeting. Ambassador Knut Vollebaek, Jan Blom, Major General, Defense Attaché, Knut Bjørn Medhus, Colonel, Assistant Defense Attaché & Air Attaché, Erling H. Wang, Counselor for Defense and Security Policy, and Merethe Nergaard, Minister Counselor Economic Affairs represented the Embassy.

The purpose of the meeting was to achieve political attention to the unique group of defense contractors in the Mid-Atlantic Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce and to network with high profile representatives from the Ministry of Defense and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

The agenda included welcome and remarks by Atle B. Nordvik, President NACC MA and introductory remarks by Baard Glad Pedersen, State Secretary and Assistant Minister of Defense. It was followed by short member company presentations and general discussions related to defense related issues.

Pictures from the meeting

For more pictures please click here.

Summary of Discussions

The discussions included Norway's defense relations with NATO and EU, structural and operational changes in the Armed Forces in Norway, research & development and joined defense programs between Norway and the U.S., technology transfer and related security classification and "Buy American" issues. It was concluded that common challenges exist and that it was required to broaden the potential for technology cooperative efforts within the defense sector. The Defense Technology committee wishes to assist in the process to resolve common challenges and to work for broader industry cooperation.

The meeting was very well attended and a complete list of attendees is shown below:

  • Mr. Knut Vollebaek, Ambassador, The Royal Norwegian Embassy
  • Mr. Baard Glad Pedersen, State Secretary and Assistant Minister of Defense
  • Mr. Jan Blom, Major General, Defense Attaché, The Royal Norwegian Embassy
  • Mr. Christian Tybring-Gjedde, Assistant Director General, Ministry of Defense
  • Mr. Leif Lindback, National Armaments Director, Ministry of Defense
  • Mr. Paal Bjørseth, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Defense
  • Mr. Torgeir Aas, Colonel, The Minister's Cabinet, Ministry of Defense
  • Mr. Erling H. Wang, Counselor for Defense and Security Policy, The Royal Norwegian Embassy
  • Mr. Knut Bjørn Medhus, Colonel, Assistant Defense Attaché & Air Attaché, The Royal Norwegian Embassy
  • Mrs. Merethe Nergaard, Minister Counselor Economic Affairs, The Royal Norwegian Embassy
  • Mr. Bob Elwell, Senior Vice President, IBGC (NACC MA Defense Technology Committee Chairman)
  • Mr. Don Neese, Director Western Europe, Lockheed Martin
  • Mr. Steve Williams, Lockheed Martin, Director, Corporate Intl Business Development (Europe-Eurasia)
  • Mr. Atle B. Nordvik, President, EMT&A/NACC MA
  • Mr. Mark Clark, Director International Business Development, Raytheon
  • Mrs. Meredith Rathbone, Steptoe & Johnson LLP
  • Mr. Terry Otis, Director, International Relations, EDO Corporation, Washington Operations
  • Mr. Andy Button, Director Government Relations, Boeing Company
  • Mrs. Britt-Carina Horncastle, C.E.O., Telenor Satellite Services Holdings, Inc.
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