RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (April 16, 2009) – Applied Research Associates,
Inc. (www.ara.com) announced it has acquired Virtual Heroes, Inc. Virtual Heroes is a
privately held company that creates Advanced Learning Technology solutions for the
healthcare, federal systems and commercial markets. Advanced Learning
Technologies leverage simulations for learning, serious games and virtual worlds to
accelerate learning, increase proficiency and reduce training costs for next generation
workforce development. As a global market leader in this field, Virtual Heroes
develops applications that facilitate highly interactive, self-paced learning and
instructor-led, distributed team training on the Virtual Heroes Advanced Learning
Technology (A.L.T.) Platform using the Unreal® Engine 3 by Epic Games.
Founded in Albuquerque, NM in 1979, ARA is an employee-owned company of more
than 1,200 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology
systems, products, and services. ARA’s collective staff possesses a broad range of
technical expertise in defense and aerospace, homeland safety and security, and
transportation technologies.
“Bringing Virtual Heroes’ technical and creative capabilities into ARA represents a
solid strategic fit for our business and opens the door to many new opportunities for
the combined organization,” said Neil Higgins, CEO of ARA. "ARA will invest in and
further mature the Virtual Heroes Advanced Learning Technology (A.L.T.) Platform
and Virtual Heroes HumanSim™ technology for medical training and education. This
investment will enable us to provide a broader array of solutions and services to our
expanding customer base in the rapidly growing training and simulation market.”
Since its inception in 2004, Virtual Heroes’ many accomplishments include work on
America’s Army®, Pamoja Mtaani™, Hilton Ultimate Team Play™, VirtualPeace™.org,
3DiTeams™, Zero Hour: America’s Medic™ and the upcoming official NASA game:
Astronaut: Moon, Mars & Beyond™.
Virtual Heroes’ employees and software products will remain based in Research
Triangle Park, N.C. and become fully integrated into ARA’s Systems and Operations
Sector as the ‘Virtual Heroes’ Division of ARA. Terms of the transaction were not
disclosed.
"We are thrilled to join the world-class team at ARA and look forward to leveraging a
wide array of capabilities, developing new products, and achieving our goal of being
the global leader in Advanced Learning Technologies,” said Jerry Heneghan, Founder
& CEO of Virtual Heroes Inc., now Managing Director of the Virtual Heroes Division of
ARA. “Both ARA and Virtual Heroes are expert integrators of complex engineering
software solutions and we share a common culture of responsiveness and excellence
– we think this is definitely a win-win for both companies.”
About Applied Research Associates
Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an international research and engineering company
recognized for providing innovative technical solutions to complex and challenging
problems that are making our world safer, more secure and a difference in our daily lives.
The company was founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979. ARA has offices throughout
the United States and one in Canada and provides a broad range of technical expertise
in defense and aerospace technologies, civil technologies, computer software and
simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.
ARA also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site
characterization, pavement analysis, and specialized robotic vehicles. For more
information, contact ARA by calling 919-582-3300, email: info@ara.com, or visit
www.ara.com and www.virtualheroes.com.
