WASHINGTON – Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Gov. Joe Manchin attended an event last week to highlight and attempt to expand the state’s biometrics industry. The event was for industry executives to explore partnerships with companies in West Virginia.

Some reasons the two thought the state would benefit the industry was because of its close proximity to Washington – where a number of federal resources would be at the biometrics industry’s fingertips – and the programs offered at state universities, such as West Virginia University and Marshall University.

Companies in attendance included Azimuth, Inc., Lockheed Martin, ManTech Security Technologies and Northrop Grumman.