Source: James Guikema, 785-532-6195, guikema@k-state.edu
Thursday, April 23, 2009
K-STATE RECOGNIZES JANET AND CHRIS MORRIS AND M2 TECHNOLOGIES
MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University is recognizing Janet and Chris Morris and M2 Technologies, Harrodsburg, Ky., at an awards ceremony at K-State Monday, April 27.
Janet and Chris Morris will be honored at the Timothy R. Donoghue Research Sponsorship Award Ceremony and luncheon for their company's "unique ability to form partnerships and leverage university research capabilities," according to James Guikema, associate vice president for research.
"Janet and Chris's work with their company, M2 Technologies, led to a collaboration with K-State, the creation of the Urban Operations Laboratory and working with Marine Corps Systems Command," Guikema said.
"This was directly responsible for over $30 million in research sponsorship," he said. "In 2001, the M2-K-State team established the National Environmental Evaluation and Remediation Center to determine the environmental impact of emerging technologies related to nonlethal weapons.
"Since then, the Urban Operations Environmental Laboratory and its successor, the Urban Operations Laboratory, have been formed. This lab funding has supported numerous projects, helped purchase research test equipment, provided graduate research assistantships and helped bring more than 100 positions to the university."
Guikema said the bond between M2 Technologies and Kansas State University continues to expand as leading edge technologies are explored and non-lethal research and development capabilities are pursued.
Prior to forming M2 Technologies, founders Chris and Janet Morris were instrumental in the development and implementation of the Department of Defense Non-Lethal Weapons Program.
They drafted the legislation to establish the U.S. Marine Corps as the executive agent for the Non-Lethal Weapons Program within the Department of Defense and were key in establishing the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate. Since 1995, M2 has provided program and resource management, technical support, concept development, systems integration, quality assurance and emerging concept application support to government, law enforcement and industrial clients.
Janet Morris is president and CEO of M2 Technologies, Inc, and Chris Morris is vice-president and board chairman.
The award is named for Timothy R. Donoghue, K-State's first vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School (1990-1998). He is credited as the unifying force for research efforts at K-State.
