September 29, 2011 Like many defense contractors, Francois Chenard launched his fledgling fiber-optics company in Northern Virginia. But in 2009, three years after starting IRflex Corporation, Chenard moved from Fairfax County to Danville.
This September, following five years of research and development funded by a $2.5 million grant from the Department of Defense, IRflex began production on mid-infrared devices and components that will be used to deflect shoulder-fired missiles from low-flying U.S. military helicopters and planes in combat zones.
Though IRflex is no longer headquartered near the Beltway, Chenard says his office in the Dan River Business Development Center is close enough to D.C. that he and his military clients can easily drive to meet each other in person when needed.”
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