
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991                   TAG: 9104110146
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-9   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

FIBER-OPTIC FIRM GETS GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

Force Inc. of Christiansburg, which is involved in fiber-optics, has received a major government contract for an undisclosed amount to develop and produce optic high-speed data links.

Wendell Hensley, vice president of marketing and sales, said the contract - which was placed by the TRW Space and Defense Sector in Redondo Beach, Calif. - calls for a long-term project that could last more than 15 years.

He said the government prohibits public disclosure of the contract amount.

Force Inc., which is a privately owned company that's been in business for 13 years, has a line of data links for both military and commercial applications. The company also designs fiber-optic data and audio and test equipment. AT&T is one of the company's largest customers.

The 52-member staff is headed by President Ken VanDike.

by CNB