Israeli defense company plans cybersecurity center in Howard County

Deals that trace back to Gov. Larry Hogan’s 2016 trip to Israel are continuing to add cybersecurity presence in Maryland.
On Tuesday, the governor’s office said radar and electronics manufacturer ELTA North America is bringing a “Cyber Innovation Center” to its recently-opened headquarters in Annapolis Junction. The company already makes tools for missile defense, and now it’s bringing digital defenses. It will add 50 jobs, and 7,500 sq. ft. of space to the new headquarters that opened in May.
The move makes sense on a couple of levels. ELTA was already in Maryland, and the state’s place as a cybersecurity hub likely also helped. The company may also be eligible for tax credits, conditional loans and training credits as a result.
“We look forward to tapping into the state’s strong cybersecurity market and well-trained workforce,” ELTA North America CEO Eric Womble said in a statement.
But Hogan had a hand in the deal. The governor’s office said the deal was the “direct result of negotiations between Governor Hogan and company leadership.” Hogan visited the company’s headquarters in Israel during the September, 2016, trade mission.
With Israel-based Cyberbit also making moves in the state after the visit, it’s clear that the governor’s innovation agenda and international trip goals are intertwined. We’ll see if the same types of deals start to flow as a result of Hogan’s trip to London earlier this year.