BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The Engineers Week Foundation, a consortium of the world's leading engineering societies and major corporations, has announced General Dynamics principal engineer Vanessa Koutroupas as one of the "New Faces of Engineering 2006," a national honor that recognizes 16 of the most talented engineers for outstanding ability and leadership in their chosen discipline.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060223/DCTH018 )

"Vanessa exemplifies the tremendous caliber of engineering professionals that help General Dynamics provide innovative solutions to our customers," said Lou Von Thaer, president of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, the subsidiary for which Koutroupas is employed. "We're extremely proud of her leadership and talent."

Koutroupas is based at the General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems' Bloomington, Minn. operation and joined the company in June 2004. She is a key member of the sustainment engineering team that is designing the Integrated Computer System (ICS) for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS), the Army's leading modernization program that will link all facets of the battlefield (soldiers, command posts, vehicles, etc.) via one networked communications system. The ICS is the common computing environment for this network.

"A career at General Dynamics has meant joining a team of extremely talented people with a common passion for challenging work and utilizing creativity and innovation to provide the highest quality products and services," Koutroupas said. "The company recognizes and celebrates the success of its employees, and continuously re-evaluates how best to support our development and well-being."

Koutroupas completed her first undergraduate degree at age 20 at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and has received a second undergraduate degree from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif. Within a year of receiving her degree, she earned a patent for software used in reliability analysis, and co-published "Life Tests: Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck" in several academic journals including NASA EE Links, Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry and Assembly magazine.

Patricia Welesko Garland, National Chair of Engineers Week 2006, said "These young professionals have made achievements that improve the lives of people all across the world. Our future is in the hands of these women and men who hold much promise. Let us celebrate their contributions and hold them up as shining stars of our profession."

Koutroupas was nominated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). IEEE and other leading engineering societies were asked by the Engineers Week Foundation to nominate outstanding young members (age 30 or younger). The finalists, who were featured in a full-page USA Today announcement on Feb. 15, reflect the pinnacle of excitement and vigor of the profession. The announcement was made in advance of National Engineers Week, Feb. 19-25, which is dedicated to raising awareness of the engineering profession among students and promoting recognition of the importance of a technical education and a high level of math. More information about the New Faces awards and National Engineers Week can be found at http://www.eweek.com.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, headquartered in Arlington, Va., is a leading provider of transformational mission solutions in command, control, communications, and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Customers include those in the defense, intelligence, homeland security and homeland defense communities. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.gd-ais.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 72,200 people worldwide and had 2005 revenue of $21.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information about the company can be found at http://www.generaldynamics.com.

CONTACT: Terri Burnor of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems,
+1-952-921-6553, Fax: +1-952-921-6102, or Email Contact

Web site: http://www.gd-ais.com/
http://www.generaldynamics.com/
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