NM Tech and NM State Sign Agreement on Playas Facility

by Jack Swickard, 505.317.1077

Right: Dr. Daniel Lopez (left), president of New Mexico Tech, and Dr. Michael Martin, president of New Mexico State University, signing the Memorandum of Agreement at the Office of Homeland Security in Santa Fe on Jan. 31, 2005.

SANTA FE, Jan. 27, 2005 -- Dr. Daniel H. López, president of New Mexico Tech, and Dr. Michael V. Martin, president of New Mexico State University, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the recently opened Playas Research and Training Center on Monday, January 31, at the Governor's Office of Homeland Security in Santa Fe.

Brigadier General Annette Sobel, state director of Homeland Security, hosted the signing ceremony.

Ranking officials from the executive and legislative branches of state government attended the ceremony.

New Mexico Tech opened the Playas Research and Training Center, which is located in the boot heel area of southwest New Mexico, on December 2, 2004. The Center is the site for national homeland security training and research programs.

At Playas, New Mexico State University will focus on agricultural and food supply security.

-NMT-